Dead Sea Scrolls are in 'very good condition' says expert
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The archaeological world was shaken to its core in the late 1940s when news broke of Bedouin shepherds stumbling upon a number of ancient scrolls in the Judean Desert. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at the so-called Qumran Caves – a complex of 12 caves in what was then part of Jordan but is now in the West Bank, near the Dead Sea. Between November 1946 and February 1947, seven scrolls were found hidden in earthenware jars tucked away in the caves.
After exchanging hands a few times between merchants and antique dealers, the scrolls eventually landed in the lap of scholar and archaeologist John C. Trever.
He knew then and there the significance of the discovery, having compared the texts to the Nash Papyrus – the then oldest-known biblical text on record.
Today we know the scrolls contained passages from the Old Testament, including the entire Book of Isaiah.
And many more scrolls have been found since, with archaeologists recently announcing the discovery of 2,000-year-old scroll fragments near the Dead Sea.
The scrolls were found at the site of Nahal Hever, which is colloquially known as the “Cave of Horrors”.
The newly-found scrolls were the first Dead Sea Scroll fragments found in 60 years, and a Bible expert who has memorised more than 20 books of scripture, suspects more could be found in the future.
Tom Meyer, a professor in Bible studies at Shasta Bible College and Graduate School in California, US, told Express.co.uk: “The site of Qumran continues to beckon visitors from all over the world.
“Everyone has heard the tantalizing tale of their discovery 75 years ago.
“Reports that locals are scavenging the caves in the Judean Wilderness for priceless, ancient scrolls have reached the Israeli Antiquities Authority who has now returned to the region of the greatest manuscript discovery of all time.
“Consequently, Israeli archaeologists have recently found more biblical scrolls from 100 to 150 years later (135 AD) in another cave in the Judean Wilderness some 25 miles away from Qumran at the Cave of Horrors in Nahal Hever.”
One of the reasons why archaeologists have found the new scrolls in the Judean Desert is the threat of antiquity thieves.
Authorities have been alerted in recent years to thieves scouring the desert in search of priceless artefacts and ancient treasures.
Dr Randall Price, an archaeologist who has explored four caves in the Dead Sea a few years ago has argued at the time of the Nahal Hever discovery there is a race against time to secure the region and its historical and cultural heritage.
Professor Meyer has now said: “With more and more discoveries being made over the years, is there more to come?
“Could it be that we are on the verge of yet another great discovery of ancient scrolls?
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“The Dead Sea Scrolls are the most significant manuscript discovery of all time.
“According to Dr Randall Price (The Stones Cry Out), the Dead Sea Scrolls represent over 1,000 ancient documents; they consist of numerous intact scrolls plus over 100,000 fragments that date to shortly before and after the time of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah.
“About 23 percent of the total manuscripts are copies of books of the Old Testament.”
To date, the Dead Sea Scrolls have revealed in their entirety or in fragments every book in the Old Testament, with one exception.
The missing book is the Book of Esther, which features in the Hebrew Bible’s third section.
The Dead Sea Scrolls collection also constitutes the oldest-known copies of the Bible.
Israel Antiquities Authority show discoveries in Cave of Horror
Professor Meyer said: “Other types of texts such as the famous Copper Scrolls are also a part of the Dead Sea Scroll library.
“Among other things, the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrate how accurately the Jewish scribes transmitted the Old Testament.
“Until the 1946 to 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls – which date to 150 BC to 70 AD – the oldest complete version of the Old Testament in the entire world was the Aleppo Codex (935 AD).
“According to Dr Price, when comparing these two texts, it was revealed, amazingly, that they are almost identical.”
The scrolls can now be seen in the Shrine of the Book at Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
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