JUNGLE REVEALS TRACES OF SHEBA'S FABLED KINGDOM
AbduLOO7
Jungle reveals traces of Sheba's fabled kingdom
by Mark Macaskill
A LOST kingdom, thought to be that of the fabled Queen of Sheba and possibly
the earliest African city ever discovered, has been found by a British
archeologist.
Dr Patrick Darling discovered the site, which covers more than 400 square
miles, while exploring the southern rainforests of Nigeria. He found mud walls
up to 70ft high and a 100-mile ditch, which are thought to be part of defensive
works.
The discovery will excite biblical scholars worldwide. The Queen of Sheba is
mentioned in the Old Testament account of King Solomon's reign. She is said to
have visited his court bearing gold, jewels and spices. She is also mentioned
in the Koran.
Excavating the city and confirming its origins will take many years. In the
meantime, it seems likely to become a centre of religious controversy. Until
now most historians thought that the Queen of Sheba's kingdom was in Yemen,
Arabia or in Ethiopia.
Darling, from Bournemouth University, said: "It is a very exciting find. Nobody
knows for sure who ordered this vast monument to be built, but it would have
been somebody with immense influence and power."
The Portuguese explorer Pacheebo Pereiro first suggested the existence of the
kingdom in his writings 500 years ago. They led Darling to explore the region
and map it for the first time. He has been working on the project in secret
since 1994, flying to Lagos several times a year and using machetes to hack a
path through the jungle.
He has kept his discovery quiet for five years and has been using successive
visits to map the city and work out its layout. Even the students who
accompanied him on several treks did not give away the secret.
Bilikisu Sungbo, Queen of Sheba, is one of the most enduring figures in
biblical history. Despite being a popular figure, however, there is no hard
proof about her life. Many historians believe that she ruled almost 3,000 years
ago, presiding over the kingdom of Saba (Sheba) - but preliminary soil samples
taken from the site so far indicate the settlement is only 1,200 years old.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding her origins, it is generally accepted that
Sungbo was a wealthy but childless black woman. West African tradition
describes how she started to build the kingdom as an offering to the gods for
her lack of children.
Sungbo's grave is believed to be in a clearing near the kingdom boundary and
attracts thousands of pilgrims each year. However, only men are permitted to
visit it - women are allowed only as far as the boundary rampart.
Darling believes that a palace may also exist, complete with living quarters,
courtyards and shrines. The structure, possibly up to three storeys high, could
be just one of thousands of smaller buildings still concealed by the dense
undergrowth.
The suggestion that Sungbo lived in Nigeria is already dividing biblical and
classical experts. Last week Michael Sanders, a classical publisher, said: "I
don't think it's at all likely that she lived in Nigeria. East Africa is far
more likely - how would she have travelled to King Solomon otherwise?"
Andrew Wilson, an expert in classical studies, said: "In my opinion, there is
always some element of truth to beliefs passed down through generations. I
would not disregard the notion that she lived in west Africa."