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Digging in the Dirt: There is history in those hills!

© lawhawk

Wherever you turn in the Middle East, you are bound to stumble upon the archeological ruins that are hundreds, if not thousands of years old. The oldest known cities in the world dot the landscape. Many are still lived in. Jericho is perhaps the oldest inhabited city in the world and has been the focus of much research. The Bible story of the walls tumbling down has much to do with this interest, and current archeological evidence points to the conclusion that the Bible story may be true.

Archeologists look to Egypt as a prime destination because of the multitude of sites that have been unearthed and those still waiting to be found. The Great Pyramids of Giza are one of the world's most popular destinations and have inspired many people, including modern architect I.M. Pei. He used a series of pyramids as the entrance of the Louvre in Paris much as the ancient Egyptians used the pyramids to welcome the dead to the afterworld. As a wonder of the ancient and modern world, the pyramids are imposing structures which have made many wonder how they were built, given the immensity of the size of the stones and the near perfect symmetry to the sides. Sitting close by is the Sphinx, which still remains a mystery to Egyptologists who want to know who and why it was built.

Further up the Nile Valley is the Valley of the Kings where many of the pharaohs tombs are located. Among these, King Tut's tomb was the greatest find and its contents are now found in museums around the world.

Roman roads, aqueducts, theaters, harbors, amphitheaters and other structures dot Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Ceasarea, Masada, and other towns built in the Roman period are major tourist attractions and many visitors leave wondering how those structures were built without the modern construction techniques.

Israel has numerous archeological sites spread around the country but some locations are more notable than others. Qu'rum is where the Dead Sea scrolls were found hidden among the many caves that dot the region. Ceasarea is the remains of an impressive Roman port town complete with breakwater and harbor structure. Jerusalem has dozens of archeological treasures from the excavations around Solomon's Stables on the south side of the Temple Mount, to digs along the exterior of Jaffa Gate which have uncovered buildings dating from the 14th Century when the current walls of the Old City were built.

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