Dead Sea Scrolls

ancient history · archaeology · religious texts

Hidden treasures. The Dead Sea Scrolls are thousands of ancient Jewish manuscripts discovered between 1946 and 1956 in caves near the Dead Sea in the West Bank. They had been sitting in those caves untouched for almost 2,000 years.

Incredibly old. These scrolls were written between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE, making them the oldest known copies of entire books from the Jewish and Christian Bible. Some of the documents are so ancient that they help scholars understand how these religious texts developed over time.

Preserved by desert. The dry climate near the Dead Sea was perfect for keeping the scrolls in good condition for thousands of years. If they had been buried anywhere else with more moisture, they probably would have crumbled to dust long ago.

Museum treasure. Nearly all 15,000 scrolls and scroll fragments are now carefully stored and displayed at the Shrine of the Book in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Visitors from around the world come to see these incredible windows into ancient times.

Changed our understanding. The Dead Sea Scrolls showed scholars new information about how Judaism and Christianity emerged and developed. They reveal religious ideas and practices from the time period when these religions were just beginning.