The media reported 28 previously unknown fragments of the Qumran manuscripts
In three American institutions are 28 previously unknown fragments of the Qumran manuscripts, reports Live Science.
The fragments were purchased from individuals, many of whom claimed that they had belonged to well-known antiquities dealer Khalil Iskander Shahin.
The Qumran manuscripts were discovered in caves near the ancient settlement of Qumran near the North-Western coast of the Dead sea. About a third of them are biblical texts.
11 caves archaeologists found half a century ago, one more recently, but it was already looted.
In 1940-1960-ies many fragments of the Qumran manuscripts passed through the hands of an antiquities dealer Khalil Iskander Shahin, known as Kando. It is likely that the new fragments also came to the dealer long before scientists discovered the cave. His son, however, expresses doubts about such a possibility — according to him, many people are affected by Shahin fragments of manuscripts were greatly exaggerated by the collectors.
28 fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls that have yet to be published are now sitting in 3 U. S. institutions https://t.co/BDnZQ9Lggk pic.twitter.com/6LbAUoapGv
— Live Science (@LiveScience) 3 APR 2017
Nine fragments are in the South-Western Baptist theological Seminary, four at the University of Azusa in California, fifteen in the Institute, whose administration wished to keep the name secret.
Fragments taken from the biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, Daniel, Deuteronomy and Psalms. New pieces are planned to describe in the next articles. Yet need to study them in details and find out whether they are fake.
7 Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls Revealed https://t.co/h2iSKy2u46 pic.twitter.com/ajdaMunmmv
— Live Science (@LiveScience) 3 APR 2017