Newly discovered caves may hold more Dead Sea Scrolls
Archaeologists believe a pair of recently discovered caves at the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found may contain additional religious texts from antiquity. Though no new manuscripts have yet been unearthed in the newly discovered caves at Qumran, archaeologists have discovered a number of objects indicating scrolls were stored there, among them jars, wrappings, and possible scroll fragments.
Overview of the Qumran Site and History
The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of 2,000-year-old Hebrew and Aramaic scrolls, were found 70 years ago by a Bedouin shepherd in cliffs near the Dead Sea. In total, 900 manuscripts and up to 50,000 fragments were uncovered in 11 caves. They are believed to have been written sometime between 150 BCE and the destruction of the Second Temple during the Roman conquest in 70 CE by the Essenes, an ascetic sect from that period. Since 1967, the State of Israel has been the repository for the vast majority of the scrolls.
The Current Archaeological Mission
Price, a professor Liberty University, is leading the dig at Qumran along with Oren Gutfeld of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The two were part of a team last year that discovered Cave 53, the twelfth such cave of its kind to be found at Qumran. Regarding the progress of the excavation, Price explained to National Geographic: “Fortunately for us, they didn’t dig very deep. Our hope is that if we keep digging, we hit the mother lode.”
Key Findings in Recently Discovered Caves
Next to that cave, archaeologists uncovered Cave 53b in January and came across a bronze cooking pot dating to the first century BCE and a nearly intact oil lamp from the Hellenistic-Hasmonean period. They also found pottery such as storage vessels, cups, and cooking pots, as well as pieces of textiles, braided ropes, and string. Although no scrolls were found in Cave 53, researchers found a blank piece parchment and storage jars identical to those discovered in other caves at Qumran.
Price told the Live Science website they have not yet examined all of the pottery found in 53b and therefore do not yet know if scrolls were stored there. However, the significance of this discovery involves the new evidence it provides that the caves south of Qumran represent sealed loci, despite the attempts by Bedouin to loot these sites.
Summary of Archaeological Data:
- Location: Qumran, cliffs near the Dead Sea.
- Newly Discovered Caves: Cave 53, Cave 53b, and Cave 53c.
- Cave 53 Artifacts: Blank piece parchment and storage jars identical to previous finds.
- Cave 53b Artifacts: Bronze cooking pot (first century BCE), oil lamp (Hellenistic-Hasmonean period), textiles, and braided ropes.
- Original Findings: 900 manuscripts and up to 50,000 fragments uncovered in 11 caves.
- Historical Period: 150 BCE to 70 CE.