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Millen added that on most occasions the artificial walls looked exactly like natural rock, and the team could only penetrate through them by using Juvelius's decipherment of the book. They circumvented several traps, and as they progressed they stumbled upon vases, urns, lamps and other artefacts that bore the seal of Solomon. They were sure they were getting closer. The Ark of the Covenant was almost within reach. The other side of the story goes that the excavations continued throughout the summer and autumn of 1909 before they were stopped due to incessant rainstorms. The excavations were resumed in August 1910, and the clearing of the water systems continued. Certain artefacts were discovered and photographed. At the same time, Vincent drew accurate maps of the ancient water systems; his records are still used by scholars, showing that the expedition continues to have archaeological benefits. But this version states that these tunnels, rather than coming closer to the final hiding place of the Ark or the Temple Mount, did not lead to the Temple Mount at all. Therefore, Parker abandoned Juvelius's The 1909-11 expedition leader, Captain Montague Parker "indications" and decided to dig new tunnels in the search for the Temple's treasures. The tunnels were lined with wooden beams to time to follow "Ezekiel's Ark hunt", or he no longer believed that prevent collapse. Did this tunnelling, meant to force the Juvelius's maps would bring them to fortune. excavations in the direction of the Temple Mount, have any That April, the Passover, the Greek Orthodox Easter and the correspondence with Millen's description that "the artificial walls | Nabi Musa festival coincided. Parker realised that Jerusalem looked exactly like natural rock"? would be preoccupied with many religious festivals, some of them If Parker had abandoned Juvelius's "help", the expedition soon taking place outside of the town, thus presenting a great had to do without him: during the fall of 1910, Juvelius became —_ opportunity for his criminal element to come to the surface. For a sick, apparently with malaria, and travelled back to Finland. The __ reported price tag of $25,000, he bribed Sheikh Halil, who was in accounts converged once again in April 1911, at the start of the charge of the mosques on the Temple Mount, to let his expedition third season, when everyone agreed that they were "close". They excavate under the mountain during this "holy week". were indeed. For one, the excavation permit was about to expire Of course, the Temple Mount would not be deserted and the in November 1911. A radical ribe did not remove all risks. Parker and his approach was needed, and Parker was men dressed as Arabs and conducted not afraid to take up the challenge. excavations by night in Solomon's Stables and Juvelius was preparing to return to in the well beneath the Foundation Stone. The Mew Voork Tins, S801011 Jerusalem, to be present in what he GONE WITH ! SURE They continued throughout the week until hoped would be the final inally they were about to dig where they breakthrough. It would be his 1 were sure the Ark would be. But that night, crowning moment, the start of a new THAT WAS S0 MON N one of the keepers of the mosque, apparently era. But before leaving Finland, he was informed by Parker of something unaware of the "private arrangement" » tween Parker and the Sheikh, was sleeping he had already been able to read in English Party Vanishes on Yacht on site and was awakened by the noise of the the newspapers: his expedition had Di excavation going on below him. Rather than just become headline news across the After Digging Under the report to his superior, the man ran into the globe. Moaque a! Omar, streets to reveal the sacrilege. A riot ensued Though Millen was convinced of and apparently the Turkish rulers had Juvelius's decoding, Parker, it seems, problems keeping the outraged crowds under was less so. Still, Parker was savvy SAID TO HAVE KING'S CROWN control. The team was caught red-handed and enough to realise that digging under everyone—or at least Parker—knew that this the Temple Mount, in whatever Also His Fling and Gwerd—Turkleh was the end. Later, Millen said he thought framework and regardless of any Government Sands High Offctais ta that the riots were incited by a member of the theories, was a "good move" which expedition whom they believed was a spy and could lead to the discovery of the Ark who had made sure that the team would not or other treasure. Furthermore, from succeed in uncovering the Ark. According to the very first day of the expedition, it Millen, this suspicion was afterwards wasn't Juvelius's decoding alone that was the main driving force: confirmed to Juvelius by a high-ranking local official. an Irish clairvoyant stated that he had seen the hiding place of the Now at the centre of a religious riot and international Ark in a séance, and it was his vision that was the primary newspaper reports, Parker officially denied the rumours about impetus for the final attempt in April 1911, which explains why _ illegal excavations and stated that the expedition had left the Juvelius was not present when controversy erupted. Parker country as planned on 18 April, due to heavy rains which did not needed to know where the final resting place was—immediately. allow any further excavations. He didn't want to proceed with Juvelius's long-winded voyage The news of his illegal excavation arrived in the port town of through underground labyrinths, which after some distance Jaffa by telegraph before Parker did—just like it arrived at seemed to turn away from the Temple Mount. He didn't have the — Juvelius's home before Parker told him. But what happened next darutalein ta Invepthgate. NEXUS = 43 The 1909-11 expedition leader, Captain Montague Parker OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com