Qumran – is located on a dry plateau between the Dead Sea and the town of Jericho, in the West Bank. The most disturbing archaeological discovery was made in 1947, when two young Bedouin shepherds, looking for a stray goat, have stumbled on a collection of ancient manuscripts in a cave at Qumran.
More than 2000 years, Qumran, located in the lowest point on earth, in the Great Rift Valley, was a thriving place. Here, between 150 BC and 68 D. H. have lived the Essenes, a community which led an ascetic life, fulfilling rituals of purification.
When the ruins of the site were removed was brought forth an Essene monastery, with a large hall for meals and gathering, kitchen and laundry, water tanks, ritual baths and a large Scriptorium. The Essenes transcribed biblical texts on leather scrolls, papyrus and copper.
When the Romans came to Jericho, the Essenes fled, hiding manuscripts in nearby caves. The desert has kept the secret for almost 2,000 years. The discovery of the manuscripts had a huge impact on the Jewish and Christian world, more than 500 manuscripts in Hebrew and Aramaic.
Writings contain the complete copy of the book of Isaiah, prayer texts, biblical interpretation, fragments of poems, texts of wisdom, and a list of all places where they were hidden.
Documents discovered at Qumran are currently housed in two museums in Jerusalem, Israel Museum (National Museum) and the Rockefeller Museum. For these priceless manuscripts, in the Israel Museum was built a special building, which was called the Ark Book or Shrine of the Book. The manuscripts are kept in a room where the light, humidity and temperature are identical to those in the caves of Qumran.
Thanks to an initiative of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, manuscripts are available online at http://dss.collections.imj.org.il .
Qumran (21 pictures – click on any picture).
Tour Guide Israel - AMIR AV 
