The site at Qumran has a long history. During the 8th to 7th centuries BC it was an Israelite fortress. From 200 BC to 32 BC it was inhabited, followed by a break in occupation until 4 BC. From 4 BC until AD 68 it was again inhabited, and the Romans used the site from AD 68 to 73.

The pottery in the caves connects the scrolls with the community, for it is of the same type and age as pottery found at the ruins.

While there is much debate as to the origin and nature of the inhabitants of Qumran, they are believed by many to have been Essenes, a group of priests who reacted against the Hasmoneans (the Maccabees). They were an apocalyptic community, i.e. they expected the end to come soon, when the Romans and the apostate Jews would be destroyed. If some of the non-biblical documents are representative of community life, then they had an extremely strict code of conduct.

5. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

Home