This photo, made available by Israeli archeologist Chanan Eshel on Friday, shows a fragment of an ancient Torah scroll containing verses from the Book of Leviticus.
Posted on 07/15/2005 3:44:20 PM PDT by wallcrawlr
JERUSALEM — A secretive encounter with a Bedouin in a desert valley led to the discovery of two fragments from a nearly 2,000-year-old parchment scroll — the first such finding in decades, an Israeli archaeologist said Friday.
The finding has given rise to hope that the Judean Desert may yield more treasures, said Professor Chanan Eshel, an archaeologist from Tel Aviv's Bar Ilan University.
The two small pieces of brown animal skin, inscribed in Hebrew with verses from the Book of Leviticus, are from "refugee'' caves in Nachal Arugot, a canyon near the Dead Sea where Jews hid from the Romans in the second century, Eshel said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The scrolls are being tested by Israel's Antiquities Authority. Recently, several relics bearing inscriptions, including a burial box purported to belong to Jesus' brother James, were revealed as modern forgeries.More than 1,000 ancient texts — known collectively as the Dead Sea Scrolls — were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves overlooking the western shores of the Dead Sea.
"No scrolls have been found in the Judean Desert'' in decades, Eshel said. "The common belief has been that there is nothing left to find there.''
Now, he said, scholars may be spurred on to further excavations.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Revelation 4:11
See my profile for info
Can I get on yer list, please.
Thank You.
"No scrolls have been found in the Judean Desert'' in decades, Eshel said. "The common belief has been that there is nothing left to find there.''
Well - it is a fairly small desert as deserts go - isn't it?
I recall reading something about when they first dug up the Dead Sea scrolls. They were paying the workers based on how many pieces they were recovering.
That is until they found out the workers were ripping the scrolls into bits so they would get paid more.
It's awe-inspiring to see the Dead Sea scrolls...it's even more amazing that they were found. The caves are way up a cliff face in Kumran, near the Dead Sea. And in summer that place is unbearably hot, I might add.
Is it just me, or does that writing seem awfully "vivid" for being 2000 years old? Most of the ancient texts I've seen have been very faded, and nowhere *near* that bold and distinct.
"Is it just me, or does that writing seem awfully "vivid" for being 2000 years old? Most of the ancient texts I've seen have been very faded, and nowhere *near* that bold and distinct"
Perhaps the image has been enhanced.
I thought the same thing. Recently I was in on a discussion about longevity of various data storage methods such as tape, CD, DVD, etc. None were predicted to last two thousand years. May have to rethink.
Dry air, in a cave, sealed/protected from the elements...nothing different than the dead sea scrolls.
Maybe soon we'll have confirmation that this too is an authentic copy of the Word of God. Just as true and correct as that old Bible sitting on your shelf.
If it isnt authentic...oh well, if it is, cool.
Actually, the market for scrolls dried up after Yadin seized a large scroll from a dealer as "national property", and didn't pay for it. (The dealer later settled for $100,000).
But after that, people stopped bringing in finds, fearing they would just be confiscated, or they would have to turn them over without payment.
THAT, and not the lack of scrolls, caused nothing to turn up for the last thirty years or so.
(At least two scrolls are known to be being kept in safety deposit boxes; they would be worth a mint, and only gain in value over the years; but until there is a certainty that they can be sold on the international, and won't be confiscated as "art" or "archaeological treasures", they are likely to remain in the banks.)
I have recently begain a subscription thru B.A.R. Biblical Archelogy Review, my spelling is propably wrong, sorry, but the magazine is incredible and not expensive!
That's why I kept my 4 track player. When everyone else is worried about Y10K, I'll be listening to the smooth sounds of Barry Manilow singing "I write the songs"
Is that the one that reported drillers had drilled into hell and they recorded the moans of the damned?
I had a drilling crew going through some clean sand yesterday and the cores were coming out so hot and stinking so much, it reminded me of that and I couldn't help chuckling to myself.
Hey, nice wieners. (circumcised I assume)
FYI ping
Cool front here today, onlu 112, down from 120 Wednesday. Palm Springs, CA. Of course it is only 75 in my bedroom.
Looks like a library overdue notice for the Dead Sea Scrolls...imagine a 2000 year old fine.
LOL
Thank you for interesting article
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