Israeli Archaeologists Discover New Fragments of Famed Dead Sea Scrolls
New fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been found in a cave near the Dead Sea, Israeli archaeologists say. The pieces of parchment build on a collection of ancient religious manuscripts discovered six decades ago…
New fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been found in a cave near the Dead Sea, Israeli archaeologists say.
The pieces of parchment build on a collection of ancient religious manuscripts discovered six decades ago.
They feature lines of Greek text from the biblical books of Zechariah and Nahum, the Israel Antiquities Authority said, according to The Washington Post.
Experts believe the fragments are part of a set known as the Cave of Horror, named after 40 human skeletons that were discovered in the 1960s during excavations.
The artifacts were preserved by the Judean Desert’s arid climate, according to Reuters.
Archaeologists also found a partly mummified skeleton of a child that dates back 6,000 years, as well as a finely woven basket that the Antiquities Authority said was probably the oldest ever documented, dating back 10,500 years.
“These finds are not just important to our own cultural heritage, but to that of the entire world,” said Avi Cohen, CEO of the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, according to The Post.
“The scroll fragments containing biblical texts, the coins and the additional finds from the Second Temple Period that were found in this unique project directly attest to the Jewish heritage of the region and the inseparable bond between the Jewish cultural activities and our place in this land.”