In race against looters, archeologists uncovered fragments containing Greek verses from Biblical books of Zechariah and Nahum, coins from time of Bar-Kokhba Revolt, 6,000-year-old mummified skeleton of child, 10,000-year-old basket in perfect condition
The fragments of parchment bear lines of Greek text from the books of Zechariah and Nahum and have been dated around the 1st century AD based on the writing style, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority
New piece of Dead Sea Scrolls jigsaw discovered after 60 years
The Authority has overseen a survey of more than 100 km (65 miles) of cliffs and the caves carved or eroded into them. Photo: Wikipedia
Updated: Mar 16, 2021, 07:13 PM IST
Israeli archaeologists racing against treasure hunters to search caves near the Dead Sea have discovered a trove of artefacts, including fragments of a biblical text, the like of which has not been seen for decades.
The finds, preserved by the hot, dry air of the Judean desert, also include the 6,000-year-old partly mummified skeleton of a child, and a perfectly intact, finely woven basket dating back 10,500 years that the Israel Antiquities Authority said on Tuesday was likely to be the oldest in the world.