Fragments of the Dead Sea Scroll with Biblical text discovered by Israeli archaeologists

Israeli archaeologists this week announced the discovery of dozens of new Fragments of the Dead Sea Scroll. The pieces of biblical texts, found in a desert cave and probably hidden during a Jewish uprising against Rome almost 1900 years ago, provide a rare window into the history of Judaism, early Christian life and mankind.

CBS News’ Imtiaz Tyab reports that when the first fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found more than 70 years ago, they were widely regarded as one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

To make the new discovery, archaeologists descended on a cliff to the cave of abominations – so named after the dozens of human remains found in it. But while the history of the cave is as dark as the name suggests, excavators have described what they found inside as ‘between heaven and earth’.

Dozens of fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been discovered after nearly two millennia. The pieces of parchment are small – a little small – but according to Dr. Oren Ableman is big enough to exhaust wisdom.

“These are the things you must do,” he quotes from one of the fragments’ Greek text. “Speak the truth to one another, give true and perfect justice in your gates and do not think evil against one another. And do not love perjury, for these are things I hate, says the Lord.”

The arid conditions of the Judean Desert ensured that dozens of other objects found along the scroll fragments could also withstand the test of time, including ancient olive pits; remnants of clothes and sandals and a woodlice comb similar to one that can be used today.

Does culture protect or steal it?

Archaeologist Chaim Cohen says the four-year project was crucial in protecting the treasures in the cave system from future looting.

“This project is protecting the area because once again it is almost impossible to defeat the looters,” he said. “They work, and the solution was to get to the point of looting.”

The massive excavation site extends over parts of southern Israel and the West Bank occupied by Israel. Israel has long been criticized for removing objects in the Palestinian territories.

According to international law, the taking of cultural goods from an occupied territory was prohibited, but the concern did not prevent the Israeli Antiquities Authority from exhibiting the discoveries.

Outside the Biblical

Some of the artifacts extend far beyond the biblical ones, including the 6,000-year-old skeleton of a small child and a basket that is almost perfectly preserved, which today does not look too bad in a home furniture store.

“We did not understand because we thought the cave was empty, and when we got there we were looking at a very large intact basket,” said Yaniv Berman, of the Antiquities Authority. He said when they got the results of carbon dating analysis, “we were shocked! It’s 10,500 years old!”

It was another dazzling puzzle piece from the past, found along with ancient wisdoms that still resonate today.