All unique Dead Sea scrolls in the Bible Museum turned out to be fake

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The most important and amazing archaeological find of the last hundred years is without a doubt the Dead Sea Scrolls. These ancient mysterious manuscripts were found in the caves of Qumran, just twenty kilometers from Jerusalem in Israel. The value and importance of this extraordinary library of Jewish documents cannot be overstated. But what about the fact that experts recently released information that all the Dead Sea Scrolls kept in the Bible Museum, without exception, are fake?

The history of the scrolls is no less fascinating than their content. In the late forties of the last century, Bedouin herders were grazing goats in the area and accidentally stumbled upon a cave. Inside they found several earthen vessels with manuscripts, which were neatly wrapped in dense cloth. In the years following this discovery, archaeologists explored the Qumran caves and found rooms that apparently served as a library. In total, about eight hundred scrolls were found. Unfortunately, historians found many caves already plundered. Priceless historical documents were resold to private collectors.

In general, the manuscripts found consist mostly of parchment scrolls, several papyrus scrolls, and one copper scroll. They were written in carbon ink in Hebrew. Several manuscripts are written in Greek and Aramaic. Since the discovery of the Qumran scrolls, their research has continued. After all, their content sheds light not only on the mystery history of early Christianity, but also reveals the meanings of all biblical texts.

Some manuscripts were written during the life of Jesus Christ. True, none of the discovered texts contains direct references to Christ and his apostles. Scientists believe this is due to the fact that the scrolls found are only a small part of the huge library. Maybe these scrolls will someday be found, or maybe they are lost forever - none of the historians knows for sure.

So far, all known Qumran scrolls can be roughly divided into two categories: biblical and non-biblical. The former contain copies of almost all the books of the Old Testament and explanations to them. Non-biblical are descriptions of the social structure of society at that time. Until that time, the most ancient Jewish document was the Nash papyrus. It was found in Egypt, its text contains a description of the ten commandments, and is more than three thousand years old.

After lengthy discussions, scholars decided to call the authors of the Qumran Scrolls a sect of the Dead Sea. This is a group of Jews who are representatives of a religious direction, called Essenes. The Essenes, along with the Sadducees and Pharisees, were one of the three main Jewish sects of that historical period. They lived in the Judean Desert and led an ascetic lifestyle. The Essenes believed that Jerusalem had sinned and departed from God, lost all its spirituality.

In one of the caves of Qumran, presumably, there was a scribe's room. There were found benches, tables with inkpots, but not a single scroll. Researchers do not know for certain whether the manuscripts were originally stored there or they were transferred there, saving them from the Romans during their invasion of the Holy Land. Whether those who lived there died or fled - this scientists also do not know.

The most mysterious scroll is by far the Copper Manuscript. It is made of copper and the text it contains is written in Hebrew. Graphically, it is very different from the rest of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Scientists have determined the date of its creation in the middle of the first century. The records of this manuscript are not a literary text, but an inventory of several dozen underground caches. The contents of these repositories attract all archaeologists in the world. But according to the researchers, the text is encoded and the code has not yet been solved by anyone. None of the caches described, where countless treasures are stored, in the form of gold, silver, weapons and other simply priceless artifacts, have not yet been found.

All the scrolls found hitherto in the caves of Qumran are known. But the translation and publication of these texts is a very long and laborious process. Some manuscripts are generally denied access and this makes it impossible to study them. There is an opinion among scientists that this process is deliberately inhibited and blocked by the Vatican. Since information about early Christianity can deal a crushing blow to the reputation and power of the Catholic Church.

Meanwhile, the official Bible Museum opened in Washington in 2017. Its co-founders, Steve and Jackie Green, consider the establishment to be very important in spreading the gospel and popularizing the scriptures in general. The museum is very modern and interactive, it is interesting for everyone. Many people, having become acquainted here with the history of the most important book, the Bible, decide to start reading it. The museum does not promote any particular denomination or tradition. We are talking about the main thing - about the Word of God.

Unfortunately for the Museum of the Bible, all of its Dead Sea Scrolls have been found to be fake. The field of art and antiquities can be very lucrative. After all, these manuscripts alone cost the museum millions of dollars. Steve Green acquired them in 2009. Experts believe that the fake scrolls were not made earlier than 2002. For the first time this became known in 2018. After that, the co-founders of the museum decided to check all the other artifacts on display, and after their detailed research and examination, the experts passed their disappointing verdict - it is a clever forgery. The original scrolls are written on papyrus, and the fake ones are on old leather. Over time, papyrus becomes very skin-like. Only after applying various methods, such as scanning electron microscopy, 3D microscopes and other types of technologies, it became clear that scientists were faced with a fake.

In the 1950s, an antiquities dealer known as Kando began buying Dead Sea Scrolls from local Bedouins and reselling them to wealthy collectors. Seventy new products have appeared on the market relatively recently, causing a stir among those interested in biblical relics. The scrolls acquired by Green belong to a group of relics created in the very near 2002.

The falsifiers were so skillful that they even reproduced the special protein glue used by the ancients. They covered the scrolls with them. It was also with fake ones. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to find authors with such deep knowledge and skills to create a fake of such a high level.

In the meantime, most of the true Dead Sea scrolls are kept in Jerusalem. Historians note the abundance of offers for the sale of Bible manuscripts on the black market. It is very tempting for museums and private collectors alike. They are ready to pay any money to get unique artifacts.

But the main thing must be admitted: most of the Qumran manuscripts have not yet been found. It is possible that somewhere in the still unexplored Qumran caves, buried in the sands, the remains of this priceless library lie quietly and humbly await their time. If you are interested in the topic of antiquities and their falsifications, read our article Shadwell's forgeries, or how two poor, illiterate thieves managed to fool the London aristocracy.