Okay, I didn't get a post done Saturday, so let's do a second one today and talk about the Copper Scroll, one part of which is pictured (left).
The Copper Scroll is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and one of the most unusual.
Why?
Well, for a start, it's made out of copper. That's very unusual, suggesting it was very important and meant to be durable. It required special work to make the thing (it being harder to engrave on copper than to write on parchment or papyrus).
It's also unusual because it contains a cryptic list of locations where treasure is hidden.
What treasure?
Answer Unclear. Ask Again Later.
Perhaps the treasure of the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans. Some have suggested the treasure of the First Temple (destroyed by the Babylonians). Perhaps treasure owned by the Qumran Community.
Hard to say.
Has the treasure been found?
Possibly. It's quite possible that all or virtually all of it has been found over the ages by people who quietly used it to fund their own lifestyles.
It's also possible that it never existed. Some have suggested the whole thing was a hoax, though personally I'm inclined to doubt that. Why would someone go to the bother of making a copper scroll (difficult work, that; expensive copper sheet, hammers and chisels and all that)?
Have any of the treasure items mentioned on the scroll be found in modern times, providing authentication for the list?
Maybe.
Some have argued that one of the sites mentioned in the copper scroll is to be found in a place known as the Cave of Letters, near the Dead Sea.
The Cave of Letters is so-named because letters dating from the time of the Second Jewish War (A.D. 130s) were found there. In fact, documents authored by the revolt's leader–Simon bar-Kokhba–were found there. Also, a notable cache of personal documents belonging to a woman named Babatha were also found.
More on Babatha and her personal documents.
Interview with man who helped find the documents.
The claim that one of the copper scroll sites has been found, like everything about biblical archaeology, is controversial, and quite debatable.
BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP NOVA FROM DOING A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IT. (Transcript if you don't want video.)
Interesting stuff, regardless of whose theory may be true.
Where there is one copper stroll, there are many.