The Dead Sea Scrolls. (discovery...meaning...significance).

Ever since a Bedouin shepherd found the first scrolls in the Judean desert in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been the subject of passionate speculation and controversy. The possibility that they might challenge many assumptions about ancient Judaism and the origins of Christianity, coupled with the extremely limited access to the scrolls imposed for many years, only fueled debate on their meaning.

With all the scrolls--more than 800 documents from 11 caves--now finally available in translation, conclusions can at last be drawn as to their authorship and origins, their implications for Christianity and Judaism, and their link with the ancient site of Qumran. This timely book, written by three noted scholars in the field, draws together all the evidence and presents the first fully illustrated survey of every major manuscript, from the Copper Scroll, the Community Rule and the Temple Scroll to less well-known scripts such as the Angelic Liturgy and Reworked Pentateuch.

* "The Scrolls Reveal" takes the readers through the discovery of the scrolls, culminating in the great finds of 1947-53.

* "The Ancient World of the Scrolls" presents the dramatic historical backdrop against which the scrolls were written and describes Jewish religious life, the pivotal role of the Jerusalem Temple, and competing Jewish sects.

* "Inside the Scrolls" provides a unique illustrated catalog of the contents of all 11 caves, including detailed analysis of every major scroll, and considers the methods of interpretation employed, including carbon-14 dating, paleography, and computer reconstruction.

* "The Qumran Settlement" discusses recent archaeological work at the ancient site, where it is believed that the authors of the scrolls lived, revealing differing theories about its inhabitants and exploring possible links between the caves and Qumran.

* "The Meaning of the Scrolls" examines the heated debates over various interpretations of the scrolls and draws conclusions on the controversy surrounding their authorship.

* With numerous reconstructions, scroll photographs, and a wealth of other illustrations, this book offers the most comprehensive and accessible account yet published of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

--from Thames Hudson Thames Hudson, 2002, 216 p., 7 3/4" x 10 3/16", hardcover, $34.95.