Archaeologists Challenge Link Between Dead Sea Scrolls and Ancient Sect

NY Times ^ | August 15, 2006 | JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

[Pharmboy]

Jürgen Zangenberg Slide Collection
The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves near the Qumran ruins.

New archaeological evidence is raising more questions about the conventional interpretation linking the desolate ruins of an ancient settlement known as Qumran with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in nearby caves in one of the sensational discoveries of the last century.

After early excavations at the site, on a promontory above the western shore of the Dead Sea, scholars concluded that members of a strict Jewish sect, the Essenes, had lived there in a monastery and presumably wrote the scrolls in the first centuries B.C. and A.D.

Many of the texts describe religious practices and doctrine in ancient Israel.

But two Israeli archaeologists who have excavated the site on and off for more than 10 years now assert that Qumran had nothing to do with the Essenes or a monastery or the scrolls. It had been a pottery factory.

snip...

Dr. Magen and Dr. Peleg said that, indeed, the elaborate water system at Qumran appeared to be designed to bring the clay-laced water into the site for the purposes of the pottery industry. No other site in the region has been found to have such a water system.

By the time the Romans destroyed Qumran in A.D. 68 in the Jewish revolt, the archaeologists concluded, the settlement had been a center of the pottery industry for at least a century. Before that, the site apparently was an outpost in a chain of fortresses along the Israelites’ eastern frontier.

“The association between Qumran, the caves and the scrolls is, thus, a hypothesis lacking any factual archaeological basis,” Dr. Magen said in an article in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

[Pharmboy]

Interesting...

[Pharmboy]

Dusty site ping...

[jalisco555]

Fascinating stuff. Bump for later reading.

[AmericaUnited]

It had been a pottery factory

Maybe that's why they hid them there. The Romans would not bother looting/rummaging through 18,000 pottery jars...

[Tulsa Ramjet]

There are theories that as Jesus traveled and honed his message for the world, he lived briefly with the Essenes. Some of their writings discuss "the enlightened one."

[true_blue_texican]

bump for later

[fortheDeclaration]

There are theories that as Jesus traveled and honed his message for the world, he lived briefly with the Essenes. Some of their writings discuss "the enlightened one."

The Essenes were apostate Jews.

[GourmetDan]

"...honed his message..."

Yeah, right.

[Pharmboy]

Excellent thought...makes sense.

[AmericaUnited]

"Sparticus, it's just a bunch of heavy worthless pots... let's go."

[bert]

Monks made distilled spirits to support their monestary.

How about Essenes making pottery to support their enclave?

Study and Industry are not mutually exclusive.

[yankeedame]

...that Qumran had nothing to do with the Essenes or a monastery or the scrolls. It had been a pottery factory.

A pottery factory? There? Way up on a mesa (transportation cost + related breakage) and so far from its customer base down in the villages and cities...and its competitors for said customers??

[carumba]

The Jews themselves were apostate, as evidenced by John the Baptist and Jesus preaching. Matt 21:24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

The Jews had lost authority and sound doctrine.

[Montana4Jesus]

Agreed. That may also explain why Jesus referred to pottery several times in his teaching. Referring to his people as clay that is formed by the potters hands and as vessels to be used as God wills.

[redgolum]

I will read this later.

[Madeleine Ward]

The Essenes also followed very strict ritual purifying practices (including frequent bathing), so I am not surprised at all to find that there was a great system of water supply.

[Recon Dad]

I think you have some good points as far as customers. This is not a resort area, unless you go to Death Valley on vacation.
I don't agree that Qumran is on a mesa though, it didn't seem like it was much higher than the road that ran along the Dead Sea.

[wildbill]

Just when you think you've got some ancient history down pat, here come some smarty pants archeolgists with another--and maybe better--theory.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

This is how academic careers are made...

[BaBaStooey]

Yeah, and Vito Corleone ran an olive oil import store in Little Italy.