Qumran
Yields More Secrets
By Rev. Randy Felton
A
sk any geologist in the oil patch, and he will tell you he would rather be lucky than good any day. It seems this is the case with the latest finds at Qumran. Jerusalem Ministries International, headed by Dr. Gary Collett, conducted a "dig" in February of 1996, with the aid of site archeologist Dr. James Strange from the University of Southern Florida. Dr. Gary Collett and Dr. Strange conducted an excavation to locate an underground cave believed to house an ancient library.Recent investigations using instrumentation show a cave under the Qumran plateau. With their permit in hand, the JMI team set out to find the cave. Two possible sites were identified and one was chosen to excavate. Upon opening the ground it was discovered that a fissure in the earth, probably caused by some ancient earthquake, had caused the readings selected. With the intended object of the dig not located, the team had no choice but to close the excavation and clean up the area. During the excavation, an outer retaining wall of the compound had been partially covered with dirt and had to be cleaned. In the process of cleaning up an interesting thing happened. A volunteer, Joseph Caulfield, heard a clink from his trowel and began to investigate. Here is where you have to decide if you believe in luck or divine intervention. Joseph uncovered some pottery shards, or potsherds, but they were not your average potsherds.
There were three items of particular interest found: a nearly intact perfume jar dating from the Persian period, a jar handle with a seal reading "HaMalech," which means "The King," as well as four potsherds with Hebrew writing, which contain what appears to be a list of food supplies brought from Jericho to Qumran.
These items will have to be put into context to understand the excitement generated by them. The perfume jar from the Persian period indicates at least visitation, if not occupation, some 150 years earlier than previously believed. The jar handle is the first item found at Qumran to contain a reference of a political nature. The shards containing the food lists are the first writing found that is not religious and indicates a normal day-to- day life-style. All items have been catalogued and passed on to the Antiquities Authority for further study. It is reported that some of the items will be displayed with other Qumran artifacts as a part of the Jubilee (fiftieth year) for the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The celebration will be held at the Jerusalem Convention Center and at the Shrine of the Book.
More investigation of the Qumran area is needed. There are numerous caves that have not been properly excavated or surveyed. Dr. Collett is still generating additional funding that will enable his group to continue to excavate the Qumran plateau. The new permits are in process and should be issued soon. If you would like to have further information concerning the research, contributing or becoming a volunteer for the next dig you may contact: Jerusalem Ministries International, P. O. Box 1667, Everett, WA. 98201, U.S.A.
