The boys and I heard a talk by a married couple who assisted on the Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project archeological dig. TeHEP is a joint scientific project between Trinity Southwest University‘s College of Archaeology & Biblical History (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) and the Department of Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Based on archeological evidence unearthed in the dig, there is strong evidence that this is indeed the city of Sodom.
Richard and Andrea Oren shared their experience with us, as well as supporting evidence and artifacts they were allowed to bring home with them. Here are my notes:
The Bible contains 25 geographical markers that position Sodom’s location. Sodom is mentioned 48 times in the Bible.
Tall El-Hammam is the name of the current location. The word ‘Tall’ means ancient city built on a hill or rise, containing defensive structures. Cities were built on top of each other. Ramparts were built with mud bricks. There are estimated to be 200 million bricks for the ramparts at this location.
Genesis 13:6-10
New International Version (NIV)
But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
The current site goes down the equivalent of a nine story building.
A 6th century church in Jordan contains the oldest geographical map, in mosaic. It is called the Madaba Map. It contains a good part of the Holy Land with Jerusalem. This map is used in verifying Biblical descriptions.
Archeologists determine the age of the site based on the pottery that was discovered. Each time frame has its own style of pottery. The pottery is assessed at multiple locations around the world, with multiple studying and confirming its type and age.
Archeologists work on a grid pattern to completely cover the site. The site of Tall El-Hammam contains 13,000 grids squares. They have currently only excavated around 100.
The Orens talked about the landowner who has contracted his land to be excavated. They shared with us the common hospitality custom of drinking tea when offered. You are to never turn it down. The landowner’s name was something like Abu Achmed. It is also custom that when a man becomes a father to his first son, he names his son, then he changes his name to Abu (meaning ‘Father’) and then the son’s name. So, his name (Abu Achmed), translates to Father of Achmed.
Also in the area they found Dolmen fields. They believe them to be pagan in nature and are located multiple areas throughout the Middle East and Europe. No bodies were found, but there was some pottery and pots with oil and grain.
When searching for a Biblical location:
- Use the Biblical text
- Use the Biblical chronology
- Go and excavate
An archeological architect creates a model map based on the evidence received via texts and other agreements based on custom and culture of its time.
Sodom was the largest city on the eastern disc of the Jordan valley. The archeologists looked for the largest site.
ARCHEOLOGY CONFIRMS GOD’S WORD, NOT PROVE IT. (“PROVING IT” WOULD PUT ARCHEOLOGY ABOVE GOD.)
Assumptions made on the ground have to align with the Bible.
A picture was shared from Tall El-Hammam, looking west. Landmarks showed the geographical locations, from left to right: Hebron – Bethlehem – Jerusalem – Jericho.
On one level, the archeologists discovered pottery that had a glaze on it. At first, they were dismayed because glazed pottery did not appear until 2300 years after Abraham. They had the ‘glazed’ pottery analyzed and it turned out to be trinitite! Trinitite is a glassy residue left after a nuclear bomb. An extreme burst of heat followed by immediate cooling.
One bummer thing we learned was that once the contract for the land is up, the site must be returned to its original condition (re-buried), unless the land owner negotiates otherwise.
The word ‘gold’ is forbidden at dig sites. Locals think that people have other motives than just digging up old artifacts for historical significance.
Skeletons found in the Middle Bronze Age era (2055 to 1650 BC) layer showed evidence of quick violent death. There were some full bodies, but most were in bits and pieces. Doctors confirm that what happened here was the equivalent of Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
They also talked about the cultural significance of the city gates in Biblical time. City gates were mentioned 275 times in the Bible. The gates were a source of civic pride. Samson carried the city gates of Gaza 42 miles to Hebron.
The boys said they enjoyed the talk, and I’m sure the stocked snack table in the back did not hurt…
Cutie ‘A, catching a few zzzz’s….this was the same week as Breakaway Extreme, as well as martial art classes.
The boys with the speakers. They were very gracious while our tactile youngest was touching everything on their table, including the ash they brought back from Sodom…oops.
