In a challenging operation by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Judean Desert, dozens of biblical fragments from the days of Bar Kochba, a 6,000-year-old girl’s skeleton and the oldest complete basket in the world were uncovered. This is the first time in about 60 years that scrolls from the Bible have been discovered in the excavations. The passages, written in Greek, include remnants of the books of the thirteen prophets, including Zechariah and Nahum.
The remains of the scroll and other rare finds were discovered by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority in a challenging and dramatic national project designed to eradicate the robbery of antiquities in the “Cave of Horror” in Nahal Hever, which hangs between heaven and earth. The cave is located about 80 meters below the top of the cliff, between abysses, and the way to it involves challenging surfing.
In addition to the fragments of the scroll, the operation yielded other astonishing findings: a rare coin cache bearing Jewish symbols from the days of Bar Kochba, a 6,000-year-old skeleton, probably of a girl, buried wrapped in cloth and embalmed. The girl was placed in a fetal position and covered with a cloth that wrapped around her head and torso like a small blanket, with her feet protruding.
The skeleton discovered in the excavations (Photo: Emil Aljem, Israel Antiquities Authority)It is evident that the person who buried the girl wrapped her up and pushed the edge of the cloth under her. The girl’s hands were gathered close to her body. The girl’s skeleton and the cloth that wrapped it were remarkably preserved as a result of the climatic conditions in the cave, and in fact a process of natural embalming took place in which the skin, tendons and hair were partially preserved, despite the passage of time.
Other finds left behind by the Jewish rebels who fled to the caves at the end of the Bar Kochba revolt: a treasure trove of rare coins, bearing Jewish symbols such as a harp and palm tree, arrowheads and spears, fabrics, sandals and even lice combs. A huge 10,500-year-old entire basket was also discovered in the area – as far as is known, the oldest in the world.
The national project to survey and excavate the Judean Desert caves has been conducted in caves and desert crevices since 2017, at the initiative of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the Judea and Samaria Archeology Staff Officer in the Civil Administration, and funded by the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry The Antiquities Authority clarified that entry to the cave is prohibited and warned that it is dangerous for travelers.
According to the directors of the operation, Dr. Ofer Sion, Amir Ganor, Dr. Eitan Klein and Pablo Betzer from the Israel Antiquities Authority, about 80 consecutive kilometers of cliffs of the Judean Desert have been surveyed so far. The complex operation included operating skimmers and reaching hard-to-reach caves, using surfing and climbing equipment. In addition, archeological excavations were conducted in selected caves.
“The purpose of the operation is to save the rare and important heritage assets in the desert from the claws of the robbers. “, Noted the director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Hasson.