The parchment fragments contain verses from the books of the prophets Zacharias and Nahum. The rolls were written in Greek.
Archaeologists have been working in the caves and cliffs of the Judean desert since 2017, as part of a “national operation aimed at preventing the looting of antiques”, according to the press release.
The basket pictured here is considered the oldest complete example in the world. Credit: Yaniv Berman / Israel Antiquities Authority
The teams also found the skeleton of a 6,000-year-old child, rare coins and a complete basket believed to be the oldest in the world, dating back to 10,500 years.
Discovered 70 years ago in caves around Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most significant biblical finds in archeology, containing the oldest versions of the Hebrew Bible and other Jewish texts dating from the time of Jesus. Most of the scrolls are kept in the Shrine of the Book, part of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Archaeologists have also found these rare coins. Credit: Ofer Sion / Israel Antiquities Authority
The last fragments of parchment were found in the Cave of Horror, which is about 80 meters (262 feet) below the top of a cliff in the Judean Desert. It can only be reached by abseiling from the top.
Since the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered more than 70 years ago, the area has attracted the attention of looters, according to the press release. The climatic conditions in the area mean that ancient scrolls and documents are exceptionally well preserved.
“The purpose of this national initiative is to rescue these rare and important assets from the clutches of thieves,” said Israel Hasson, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who asked for more resources to complete the recovery operation.
The place is known as Cave of Horror. Credit: Eitan Klein / Israel Antiquities Authority
“We must ensure that we recover all the data that has not yet been discovered in the caves, before the thieves do it. Some things are worthless.”
Hananya Hizmi, head of staff at the West Bank Civil Administration Archeology Department, said this was “an exciting time” and that the results of the operation shed more light on the region’s history.
“The findings attest to a rich, diverse and complex lifestyle, as well as the harsh climatic conditions that prevailed in the region for hundreds and thousands of years,” said Hizmi.
Since October 2017, teams have researched 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) of desert caves, many of which are virtually inaccessible, according to the press release.
Eleven lines of text have been reconstructed, including parts of a Greek translation of Zechariah 8: 16-17. In another fragment, verses from Nahum 1: 5-6 were identified.
Archaeologists had to rappel in the Cave of Horror. Credit: Eitan Klein / Israel Antiquities Authority
Archaeologists have also discovered the partially mummified skeleton of a 6 to 12-year-old child, buried in a shallow grave under two flat stones and wrapped in a cloth, which dates back 6,000 years ago.
“It was obvious that whoever buried the child enveloped him and pushed the ends of the cloth under him, just as a father covers his son with a blanket,” said Ronit Lupu, an archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The child’s skeleton and the fabric wrap were remarkably well preserved and because of the climatic conditions in the cave, a natural mummification process took place; the skin, tendons and even the hair were partially preserved, despite the passage of time.”
Centuries of hot and dry weather mean that the large basket, with a capacity of 90-100 liters and made of plant material, can provide a new insight into how products were stored about 1,000 years before the invention of ceramics, the statement said. press.