The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/qumran/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:54:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Qumran | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/qumran/ 32 32 The oldest complete biblical scroll ever found was originally split in 2, scholar finds https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-oldest-complete-biblical-scroll-ever-found-was-originally-split-in-2-scholar-finds/ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:17:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3723517 Study comes as 'Great Isaiah,' a 24-foot-long text parchment found with the Dead Sea Scrolls, set to be displayed by the Israel Museum in full for the first time since 1968

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]]> Computers taught to read Dead Sea Scrolls in hunt for clues hidden from human eyes https://www.timesofisrael.com/computers-taught-to-read-dead-sea-scrolls-in-hunt-for-clues-hidden-from-human-eyes/ Sat, 13 Sep 2025 10:00:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3631856 By combining multispectral imaging with computer vision methods, Tel Aviv University researchers give scholars new tools to read, match, and study the 2,000-year-old artifacts

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]]> New study revolutionizes Dead Sea Scrolls dating, might rewrite Israel’s history https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-study-revolutionizes-dead-sea-scrolls-dating-might-rewrite-israels-history/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:45:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3565950 Trailblazing interdisciplinary system, combining AI and radiocarbon dating, indicates the precious artifacts may have been written decades - or even centuries - earlier than previously believed

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]]> Film shines a spotlight on Israel’s tiny Samaritan community fighting for its future https://www.timesofisrael.com/film-projects-spotlight-on-israels-tiny-samaritan-community-fighting-for-its-future/ Thu, 10 Nov 2022 02:02:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2862559 Trifecta of published book, film that opened Nov. 8 and ongoing exhibit examines how unique people struggle to ensure survival without compromising their unique religious practices

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]]> See the source of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran National Park https://www.timesofisrael.com/see-the-source-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls-in-qumran-national-park/ Sat, 20 Nov 2021 04:48:11 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2652448 A sprawling compound shows that the area's (sometimes gruesome) history, tied to an ancient Jewish sect, extends well beyond the caves made famous in 1947

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]]> Ancient text said to solve mystery of why Dead Sea Scrolls were placed in Qumran https://www.timesofisrael.com/1000-year-old-document-may-reveal-why-dead-sea-scrolls-were-stashed-in-qumran/ Tue, 28 Sep 2021 20:23:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2623294 Israeli researchers believe 1,000-year-old document from Cairo Geniza shows site hosted an annual event where Essene sect gathered, bringing religious scriptures they left behind

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]]> Pioneering DNA study reveals not all Dead Sea Scrolls are from Dead Sea https://www.timesofisrael.com/pioneering-dead-sea-scrolls-dna-study-reveals-bible-was-changing-2000-years-ago/ Tue, 02 Jun 2020 15:24:56 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2317781 Breakthrough paleogenomic analysis of ancient parchment helps prove textual evolution in 2 versions of Book of Jeremiah in 2nd Temple era

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]]> ‘Shabbat’ revealed: UK’s ‘blank’ Dead Sea Scroll fragments yield a holy surprise https://www.timesofisrael.com/shabbat-revealed-uks-blank-dead-sea-scroll-fragments-yield-a-holy-surprise/ Wed, 20 May 2020 07:08:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2309375 The University of Manchester's Reed Collection was just a pile of 2,000-year-old leather scraps from Qumran -- until Prof. Joan Taylor spotted one ghostly letter, then another...

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]]> Digging the land: The top 10 Holy Land archaeology stories of 2019 https://www.timesofisrael.com/digging-the-land-the-top-10-holy-land-archaeology-stories-of-2019/ Wed, 01 Jan 2020 14:43:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2212106 A purely subjective list from the ToI's archaeology editor on objectively important discoveries

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]]> 12 stories in 2019 that made Times of Israel reporters cry, laugh, cringe, cheer https://www.timesofisrael.com/12-stories-in-2019-that-made-times-of-israel-reporters-cry-laugh-cringe-cheer/ Sat, 28 Dec 2019 22:59:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2203841 As the year draws to a close, our reporters reflect on the work that touched them the most, from clambering the cliffs of Qumran to boogying at the Eurovision

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]]> Amid ‘extreme’ heat wave, officials close parks, restrict holiday bonfires https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-extreme-heat-wave-officials-close-parks-restrict-holiday-bonfires/ Wed, 22 May 2019 11:34:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2080929 Temperatures to reach highs above 100° Fahrenheit by Friday, sparking fears of runaway blazes from Lag B'Omer fires

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]]> In the Qumran cliffs, an expedition digs up new Dead Sea Scroll caves https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-qumran-cliffs-an-expedition-digs-up-new-dead-sea-scroll-caves/ Thu, 24 Jan 2019 19:51:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2003915 Winter excavation yields information on how an ascetic desert community lived and where it hid its precious sacred texts -- and gives pointers for where to search next

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]]> One little lonely guy, many legacies: 6 things to know for December 2 https://www.timesofisrael.com/one-little-lonely-guy-many-legacies-6-things-to-know-for-december-2/ Sun, 02 Dec 2018 09:47:04 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1972204 George H.W. Bush isn't remembered as a big Israel-lover, but is still recalled for managing to kick off a peace process and helping rescue Jews around the world

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]]> Newly discovered caves may hold more Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.timesofisrael.com/newly-discovered-caves-may-hold-more-dead-sea-scrolls/ Sat, 01 Dec 2018 21:56:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1972046 Though no new manuscripts found so far, archaeologists are hopeful after unearthing objects at Qumran used in the storage of ancient scripts

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]]> 4 ancient toilets almost wiped from Israel’s history https://www.timesofisrael.com/studying-old-thrones-researchers-flush-out-ancient-man-and-his-business/ Mon, 20 Nov 2017 18:21:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1733667 Studying old thrones, researchers flush out ancient man's past through what we've passed

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