The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Qumran Caves

Qumran Cave, the first recovery site of 1 of 70 scrolls, housed parts of the original scrolls. The scrolls were removed for examination while the next team explored further discovering a second Qumran Cave housing biblical books from Moses, Jeremiah, and Psalms as well as others such as Jubilees and the Book of Enoch. The third Qumran Cave contained a unique two-part copper scroll encrypted with a treasure map indicating the location of hidden Jewish treasures from the attacking Romans at the time. The fourth, fifth, and sixth Qumran Caves revealed scroll fragments in poor condition outlining Jewish laws and prayers. The seventh Qumran Cave included portions of the New Testament written in Greek rather than Hebrew while the eighth Qumran Cave contained the Book of Exodus, fragments of Genesis, Psalms, Mezuzah, Hymn, and Tefillin. Astonishingly, cave eight included an abundance of oil lamps, 68 leather tabs for reinforcing the scrolls, and food remnants indicating the cave's use as a workshop. The ninth and tenth Qumran Caves had little to offer besides a jar top and a single scroll fragment. The eleventh and last Qumran Cave unearthed 30 manuscripts, a few nearly complete scrolls, and the most prized possession, the Temple Scroll (the longest Dead Sea Scroll).

 

Nahal Hever Caves

Nahal Hever Caves divulged 15 Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek letters ranging from 94 - 132 AD from Shim'on Bar Kohkba, the leader of the Great Revolt. Additional documents exposed the names of cave refugees such as Babatha and Eleazar, farmers from Ein Gedi.

The southern part of Nahal Hever Caves, known as the "Cave of Horror", unmasked 40 refugee skeltons fleeing the Great Revolt.

 

Masada 

Herod's Palace or safe haven at Masada intended to rejuvenate the rebels in an epic last stand against Rome in the Great Revolt.