Inspired by Reader Wil's ABC Wednesday post on Qumran today, I figure it is high time to share my Dead Sea scrolls pictures from last February's Jerusalem International Book Fair.
The Israel Antiquities Authority mounted a nice exhibition on the DSS back then.
(You can click 2x to enlarge any photo below.)
The equipment used in conservation of the 2,000-year-old scrolls.
And the patient and skillful women who work on them.
As it says above
The arid climate of the Judean Desert [e.g. at Qumran] and the dark, remote caves preserved the scrolls for more than 2,000 years.
Upon removal from the caves in 1947, the scrolls were exposed to a steady process of deterioration.
They have suffered from exposure to light, residues of adhesive tape and other conservational interventions.
All took their toll on the fragile parchments and papyri.
In 1991 the Israel Antiquities Authority set up a climate-controlled storeroom and a state-of-the-art laboratory for the conservation and preservation of the scrolls, widely considered a universal cultural heritage.
Four conservators have been tasked with the mission of slowing the scrolls' steady deterioration and preserving them for posterity.
Last December, as Bible History Daily reported,
Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with Google, launched The Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library, a new website that allows visitors to view and search high-resolution images of the complete Dead Sea Scrolls archive online. The project uses the most advanced and innovative technologies available to image the entire collection of about 930 manuscripts, comprising thousands of Dead Sea Scrolls fragments, in high resolution and multiple spectra. Through this process, hundreds of images are now accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world over the web, with many thousands more on the way. Several hundred fragments are already viewable, and it is hoped that transcriptions and translations for many scrolls will soon be available as well.
You will enjoy the IAA's new website, The Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library.
See also the Israel Museum's website The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls.
How to Study a Dead Sea Scrolls Text is interesting, too.
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(Linking to ABC Wednesday Q Day.)
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Visiting Qumran in 2001 was one of the greatest highlights of my life.
ReplyDeleteI was in awe .
Thank you for sharing the fascinating post.
Very interesting post and great for Q day. Carver, ABC Wed. Team
ReplyDeleteExcellent shots!
ReplyDeleteI used the museum's website tour when writing sequences set there. I'd love to see the place for myself.
Yes, I love the history!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
This is very interesting and historic great! Perfect Q!
ReplyDeleteRemember I was very fascinated by the rock formations in Qumran.
hi Dina, i always enjoy reading your blog as i feel just a tiny bit closer to Israel. there is always something interesting and sometimes touching. please know that your blog is very important to me. shalom, Fran (in Australia)
ReplyDeleteFascinating subject. I left a fairly lengthy comment on Reader Will's blog, so I hope you won't mind if I refer you to there. We can well afford to have two posts about Qumran since it is such an important discovery. Thank you for the added information.
ReplyDeleteAll so amazing. Thanks for the coverage Dina, thorough as always. Makes me feel like I'm there!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extra information! I shall refer to your post on my blog!
ReplyDeleteShalom, dear Dina!
Wil, ABCW Team
Great post. We will be handling a quite younger manuscript here, in a few days...
ReplyDeleteFran in Australia, shalom. This is so nice to know. Thanks for your visits. You are always welcome here.
ReplyDeleteWil, it's nice to collaborate with you on Qumran.
Friends, thanks for all your good input.
VP, what manuscript?! Hope you will tell us all about it.
Interesting! I think there were fragments of the Book of Tobit found in the Qumran caves - I really like that story.
ReplyDeleteThis is really remarkable. I'm so glad I can catch up with your wonderful posts.
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