Bible Museum says 5 Dead Sea Scrolls fake, pulled from display – By Leada Gore (al.com) / Oct 23 2018
The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. said testing has showed five fragments thought to be from the Dead Sea Scrolls are fake and will be removed from display.
A group of German scientists analyzed the museum’s collection of 16 Dead Sea Scroll fragments and found that five showed “characteristics inconsistent with ancient origin” and will “no longer be displayed at the museum.” The testing came after CNN raised questions about the authenticity of the scrolls in an article last year.
“Though we had hoped the testing would render different results, this is an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of verifying the authenticity of rare biblical artifacts, the elaborate testing process undertaken and our commitment to transparency,” Jeffrey Kloza, Ph.D., chief curatorial officer for Museum of the Bible, said in a written statement.
The museum had previously sent the five fragments for 3D digital microscopy, scanning X-ray fluorescence and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy material analysis of the ink, sediment layers and chemical nature of the sediment. That report also raised suspicions about the fragments, the museum said.
The five fragments had been on display since the museum opened in November 2017. The museum’s major backers are the Green family, which operates Hobby Lobby. Steve Green, Hobby Lobby’s president, also serves as the museum’s chairman.
The other fragments on display at the museum will remain but will include a sign addressing questions dealing with their authenticity. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a set of ancient Jewish religious manuscripts found in a cave near the Dead Sea more than 70 years ago and is believed to contain the earliest and most complete version of the Hebrew Bible. More than 900 manuscripts and 5o,000 fragments of the scrolls are in existence.
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