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December 9, 2007
The Wadi Qelt
Yesterday Todd Bolen at Bible Places wrote about an article by Sami Backleh. Backleh, a biologist, reported on his birding outing in and around the Wadi Qelt. The article is abnormally interesting. So are Todd's pictures of the Wadi Qelt. I have my own pictures somewhere or other but they are not nearly as good as Todd's.
I found this comment by Backleh of special interest,
Wildlife in Palestine? To those steeped in bad news from this tiny, accursed corner of the world - whether they know it as Palestine, the West Bank and Gaza, or the occupied territories - it can be a shock to learn that much of anything is thriving here, wild or otherwise. But hyenas and gazelles are still roaming through the wadis of the eastern slopes of Palestine, and ibex still gambol in the mountains of the Dead Sea.
In 1973, Ruben Bullard, the geologist with the Gezer excavation, led several of us on a day hike from Ein Farah to a refugee camp near Jericho along the Wadi Qelt. We made a short stop at St. George's Monastery along the way. We generally followed the Roman Aqueduct, sometime walking in it. The route was often perilous with the wall of the wadi nearly vertical both above and below us. And it was hot. But then it was also July. Taking a hike with Ruben was always a great experience. He was able to see more in a foot than most of us see in a mile.
Todd's post and Backleh's article brought back memories.
Posted by Duane Smith at December 9, 2007 8:20 PM | Read more on Archaeology |
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