CHAPTER II

THE SITES OF EARLY CITIES AND THE RACIAL CHARACTER OF THEIR INHABITANTS

Characteristics of early Babylonian sites--The French excavations at Tello--The names Shirpurla and Lagash--Results of De Sarzec's work--German excavations at Surghul and El-Hibba--The so-called "fire-necropoles"--Jôkha and its ancient name--Other mounds in the region of the Shatt el-Kâr--Hammâm--Tell 'Îd--Systematic excavations at Fâra (Shuruppak)--Sumerian dwelling-houses and circular buildings of unknown use--Sarcophagus-graves and mat-burials--Differences in burial customs--Diggings at Abû Hatab (Kisurra)--Pot-burials--Partial examination of Bismâya (Adab)--Hêtime--Jidr--The fate of cities which escaped the Western Semites--American excavations at Nippur--British work at Warka (Erech), Senkera (Larsa), Tell Sifr, Tell Medîna, Mukayyar (Ur), Abû Shahrain (Eridu), and Tell Lahm--Our knowledge of North Babylonian sites--Excavations at Abû Habba (Sippar), and recent work at Babylon and Borsippa--The sites of Agade, Cutha, Kish and Opis--The French excavations at Susa--Sources of our information on the racial problem--Sumerian and Semitic types--Contrasts in treatment of the hair, physical features, and dress--Apparent inconsistencies--Evidence of the later and the earlier monuments--Evidence from the racial character of Sumerian gods--Professor Meyer's theory and the linguistic evidence--Present condition of the problem--The original home and racial affinity of the Sumerians--Path of the Semitic conquest--Origin of the Western Semites--The eastern limits of Semitic influence