In 2020, scientists accomplished what seemed impossible—they extracted and sequenced ancient DNA from the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves by collecting microscopic parchment dust without damaging the sacred texts, and what they discovered shattered seventy years of established archaeological theory: the scrolls didn't come from one isolated sect at Qumran as scholars had believed, but from multiple communities across ancient Judea, proven by the fact that some fragments were written on cow parchment (which couldn't have come from the desert environment where cattle can't survive) while others were sheep parchment, and different versions of biblical books like Jeremiah came from different animals in different regions.
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So here's the thing! What was discovered at Qumran were scrolls--Single pieces parchment, created from the skins one to several animals bonded together, and then rolled up and stored individually to protect them from the elements. When discovered 2000 or so years later, yes, they had deteriorated into 75,000 fragments. But you can't picture 75,000 bits scattered randomly all over several caves. The scrolls were stored in numerous sealed clay pots. So each pot had it's own distinct set of 'bits' that together made one or several scrolls. Also those 'bits' in the jar were wrapped around each other mostly as they were once a rolled up scrolls. The unwrapping process was meticulous and thoroughly documented. There would have been very little wondering about what loose, random bit went with which scroll in that particular pot. About all that DNA testing could provide would be the type of animal skin the parchment was made of and perhaps a better dating of the age of the parchment--though carbon dating could provide that too. DNA analysis could not even verify which scroll a random bit belonged to as a roll of parchment could easily have been made up of the skins of several animals.
I love this! I have been puzzled for decades over these contradictory explanations and after visiting the Dead Sea Scrolls area in Qumran in 2021 and having planned another trip in October of last year that was cancelled due to the attack in Israel. We hope to go back in October this year, God willing. I love this because it all makes sense. Why did some leave the community before the AD invasion by the Roman’s is another question? Dis some become followers of Jesus? Or John the Baptist? Many questions yet to be answered.
That's called a contaminated sample my friend because anybody that handle that document or any piece of dust that accumulated while handling the document would contaminate the DNA sample. Smart guy
Why does any library contain conflicting views on their shelves? It's a library smart guy. That's the definition of a library, a collection of books
This is not compelling for most of the information given. For example, because cow leather was used you assume the only available conclusion is that these manuscripts came from diverse places and peoples installed of considering that trading was done regularly from caravans and shipping etc, so it’s very likely that the materials such as cattle skin was readily available for those who were writing and copying important scriptural texts and other important writings.
This presentation and its conclusions overlook the obvious likelihood that the parchment scrolls at Qumran were collected from various places. They would have started with a collection of scrolls already in use when they decided to separate from the new temple establishment. They might have been copied over some prior period and collected already or collected by the members of the Qumran community after its establishment. It is not surprising that some of these manuscripts were originally prepared and perhaps even copied more than once in more verdant areas where people were herding cattle areas. We find alternative versions of many scripture segments in the canonical versions coming down to us through the Masoretes or reflected in the LXX Greek text of the Hebrew scriptures.
Maybe it's just me, but this does not surprise me at all. In fact it makes perfect sense. A library is a collection of books. Each book is almost certainly a different author tho indeed one author might write more that one book, but one author will not write them all. And yes, scribes probably made copies of some, but more likely this is simply a library of books from many different authors, scribes and regions. Nothing shocking here at all. Just different from what might have been assumed at first. I'm glad we have them. ❤❤🎵🎵
My personal library has stuff in it with which I disagree and are from other regions and religions and languages. Wonder what that says about my belief system.
No doubt they also were able to determine the relative ages of the scolls as well. Of course some of the scrolls were older than the community itself. What else would the scribes have been copying from? The oldest texts are generally considered to be the most authoritative and closest to the original.
That the cave was a geniza does not preclude the scrolls having belonged to the local community. Even today, many scrolls are cherished for their antiquity. Genizas are usually close to the location of a community. Any established community would have had a collection of scrolls brought in by their members. The Essene sect had members that came from all over the country. Of course they brought their cherished books with them.
Animal bone deposits found at Qumran include cattle, so assertions about the cattle parchments being imported from elsewhere don't hold up.
This is such a great documentary, why did someone spoil it with a nerv racking music, that feels like toothache?
Did the genetic study give insight of the age of the scripts , did that match the age given by older traditional ways of dating
In the dead sea, in a cave near Okluskinska deep in the ground, they dicovered an A and an I.
This is perfect example of going on and and on and on with very little actual information. This could all be done with a 10 min. Goal is not to give any meaning til information. Or even postulation. But just earn YouTube money.
Locating a major library in a dry land to better preserve the material would have been obvious even 2000 years ago. Good job!
DNA analysis to take the next step in understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls is genius! The video could have been a fraction of its actual length.😂
These comments are full of bots. Why the attack at a scientific discovery? Doesn’t fit with your attempts to rewrite history?
"Surface's were bleached" doesn't bleach have a DNA sequence?
So where is the lying? Where were did the cowskins cousins originated?