This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt: ...of the earliest Babylonian civilization. 1 Started in 1874 by Professor J. Halevy of Paris. On the whole subject comp. Weissbach, Die Sumerische Frage, Leipzig, 1898, and Halevy, Le Sumerism et P histoire Babylonienne, Paris, 1901. The first attempt at imitating De Sarzec's example was made in Germany. And though in the end it proved to be unproductive of great tangible results, and barren of those startling discoveries without which an expedition cannot command the general support of the people, it was important, and a sure sign of the growing popularity of cuneiform studies in a land where only ten years previous even university professors kept aloof from the Assyriological science. Through the liberality of one man, L. Simon, who in more than one way became a patron of archaeological studies in Germany, the Royal Prussian Museums of Berlin were enabled to carry on brief excavations at two Babylonian ruins during the early part of 1887. These researches were in control of Dr. Bernhard Moritz and Dr. Robert Koldewey, faithfully assisted in the practical execution of their task by Mr. Ludwig Meyer, the third member of their mission. Leaving Berlin in September, 1886, they reached the scene of their activity in the beginning of the following year. The mounds which were selected for operation are called Surghul and El-Hibba, distant from each other a little over six miles, and representing the most extensive ruins in the large triangle formed by the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Shatt el-Hai. Situated in the general neighborhood oV Tello, and about twenty miles to the northeast of Shatra, Surghul, the more southern of the two sites, rises at its highest point to almost fifty feet above the flat alluvial plain and covers an area of about 192 acres, while the ...