Qumran Archaeology: More Grave Errors

^[1] Due to its association with the Dead Sea Scrolls, the site has over the years attracted a wide number of individuals, among them people claiming to be the prototype for the Indiana Jones character (which was found not to be true). One unifying factor found among fringe types has been their tendency to exploit the site via the media for their own personal interests. Under Israeli law, they are not granted licenses to excavate. In the past, they have always found ready and willing individuals within the academic community to secure them this license, providing them funding as a trade off for their own excavations. Unfortunately, leading individuals in the museums of Israel and the universities have succumbed to this temptation in order to secure funds to carry out their research, often in conflict with those for whom they secure the licenses.

^[2] H. Eshel, M. Broshi, R. Freund, B. Schultz, “New Data on the Cemetery East of Khirbet Qumran,” Dead Sea Discoveries 9, 2. 135-163.

^[3] Sheridan “French collection of Human Remains from Qumran,” Dead Sea Discoveries. 2002.

^[4] J. Zias, “The Cemeteries of Qumran and Celibacy: Confusion laid to rest?” DSD vol. 7 no. 2 2000. pp.220-253.

^[5] 2001, by Steve Weizman, Associated Press.

^[6] Y. Nagar, “Appendix C: Study of Burial 1000.” Dead Sea Discoveries 9, 2. 165.

^[7] Eshel et al., p.153.

^[8] M. Broshi and E. Eshel, “Whose bones?” Biblical Archaeological Review Vol.29, No.1 , p. 31.

^[9] M. Rees, D. Van Biema, “Digging for the Baptist,” Time Magazine, Aug 12th, 2002.

^[10] T.H. Limm, “Intellectual Property and the Dead Sea Scrolls,” Dead Sea Discoveries vol.9 no.2 2002. p.1.

^[11] J. Lubbe, “The Exclusion of the Ger from the Future Temple,” Papers on the Dead Sea Scrolls offered in Memory of Hans Burgmann, ed. Z.J.Kapera, The Enigma Press, Krakow 1996, pp. 175-182.

^[12] Ibid. 11.

^[13] Eshel , DSD. p .143.

^[14] H. Shanks, “Religious Jews: Save the Bones of your Ancestors!” BAR 27/2 (Mar/Apr 2001) 19.

^[15] The Jordanian Royal Air Force aerial photograph taken 28/3/1954 (PAM 42032) constitutes the cover of the recent monograph by the Donceels on Qumran (The Khirbet Qumran Cemeteries. A synthesis of the archaeological data. The Enigma Press, Crackow 2002). The photo by the Israeli Air Force was taken on 1/8/69. Thanks to the Israel Mapping Center for permission to publish this photograph.

^[16] De Vaux opened up tomb 11 in the central extension in 1951. Unfortunately the resolution on the Jordanian map and the height from which it was taken do not permit one to state unequivocally where its exact location was; however, based on other maps, I would have to agree with Donceel that these two tombs lying adjacent to one another are those excavated by Steckoll.

^[17] S. Steckoll, “Excavation Report on the Qumran Cemetery,” RevQ 23 (1968) 323-52. Donceel, see Fig 12, plan of the cemetery.

^[18] Eshel et al., p.144.

^[19] An alternative possibility is that these fragments may represent another tomb to the north, which is not marked because the Bedouin reused Essene grave coverings for their own graves.

^[20] Eshel, et al., p.144.

^[21] M. Broshi and H. Eshel, “Whose Bones?” BAR Jan/Feb. 2003 vol.29 no1. pp. 26-33,71.

^[22] E. Izraeli, “Appendix B: Test Results from the Metal Coffin,” p.164.

^[23] A.W. Cramb, “A Short History of Metals.” Zinc as a metal, as opposed to zinc as a pigment, was known to the Chinese in the 14th century; however, it was not imported to the west until 1738 when it became common.

^[24] Eshel et al., p.144, 146.

^[25] Robert Feather, who refers to himself as a metallurgist turned journalist is the author of The Copper Scroll Decoded (HarperCollins 2000) claims in an interview given to HarperCollins, the publishers of his book, to have located treasures mentioned in the Copper Scroll as well as believing that the Bedouin skeletons buried east-west, facing Mecca, are actually thousands of years earlier and are gazing at the pyramids of Egypt.

^[26] “Dead Sea Scrolls: A Never-ending saga.” Ha’Aretz (Dalia Shehori) July 12, 2002. p. B7.

^[28] The BBC in a report on the 2002 excavations wrote that “these days, it is hard to distinguish the smell of sulfur from the rotten stench of claims, counterclaims and accusations emanating from the nearby site of Qumran,” Ari Goldberg. BBC News World Edition 27 August 2002. Unlike many other journalists taken in by the lure of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Goldberg quickly sized up the situation and portrayed the reality of the excavations.

^[29] M. De Unamuno, The Tragic Sense of Life (1913).

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