AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion

News & Events: Public Lecture

What New Technology is Telling Us About the Dead Sea Scrolls

Wednesday, 18 October 2006 7:30 PM
Light Reception 6:30-7:30 PM
AAAS Auditorium (2nd floor)
1200 New York Avenue, NW
Washington DC

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves located on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, have made a major contribution to scholarship, shedding light on different aspects concerning the society, literature, religion and thought of Jews in ancient times. In order to make the most of this goldmine of information, traditional humanistic scholars (archaeologists, theologians, and historians) have begun to work with scientists from varied fields of research, applying to the scrolls and to the archaeological finds from Qumran new technical developments in order to rediscover data. In Dr. Roitman's presentation, he will survey some of these technical developments and their relevance for understanding the Qumran materials in particular, and for the study of ancient Judaism in general.

Lecturer

• Dr. Adolfo Roitman, Curator of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Director of the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem