Israeli Archaeologists Discover 12th Cave near Qumran that Once Held Dead Sea Scrolls

Israeli archaeologists have discovered the 12^th cave in the Israel that once held Dead Sea Scrolls. The cave was found near Qumran.

The latest excavation in the cliffs west of Qumran, situated over the Green Line in the West Bank, was carried out by researchers from Hebrew University and the Israel Antiquities Authority with support of the IDF’s Civil Administration. The excavation was led by Hebrew University’s Oren Gutfeld and Ahiad Ovadia with collaboration of Randall Price and students from Virginia’s Liberty University.

According to researchers, this cave was looted in the middle of 20th century, but telltale signs inside the cave indicated that scrolls had been there.

Altogether there was “no doubt we have a new scroll cave,” Oren Gutfeld, an archaeologist at the Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology and director of the excavation told The Times of Israel.

“Only the scrolls themselves are not there.”

Researchers found flint blades, arrowheads, pottery and broken storage jars and lids inside the cave. A strap was also found that, according to researchers, would have tied the strolls. There was also a tunnel in the back. Hebrew University of Jerusalem has described the discovery as a milestone. The organic remains and parchment have been dated to the first century CE. This was the period when the community at Qumran was active during the twilight of the Second Temple period.

“This exciting excavation is the closest we’ve come to discovering new Dead Sea scrolls in 60 years. Until now, it was accepted that Dead Sea scrolls were found only in 11 caves at Qumran, but now there is no doubt that this is the 12th cave,” Oren Gutfeld said in a statement.

“Although at the end of the day no scroll was found, and instead we ‘only’ found a piece of parchment rolled up in a jug that was being processed for writing, the findings indicate beyond any doubt that the cave contained scrolls that were stolen.”

“The findings include the jars in which the scrolls and their covering were hidden, a leather strap for binding the scroll, a cloth that wrapped the scrolls, tendons and pieces of skin connecting fragments, and more,” Gutfeld added.

Iron remnants of pickaxes were also found in the cave. According to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, it was looted by Bedouins in the 1950s.

“The important discovery of another scroll cave attests to the fact that a lot of work remains to be done in the Judean Desert and finds of huge importance are still waiting to be discovered,” Israel Hasson, Director-General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in the statement.

“We are in a race against time as antiquities thieves steal heritage assets worldwide for financial gain.”