---
title: Dead Sea Scrolls
author: Ken & Nyetta
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/982/dead-sea-scrolls/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Dead Sea Scrolls
_Authored by Ken & Nyetta_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/982.jpg)
## Image Caption
The [Dead Sea Scrolls](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dead_Sea_Scrolls/) (DSS) are a collection of scrolls found in the desert east of [Jerusalem](https://www.worldhistory.org/jerusalem/) on the shore of the Dead Sea. They represent the largest manuscript collections of texts from the Second [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) Period found in the area of Judah, an area notorious for its lack of manuscripts. Around 930 texts were found in 11 caves in the hills surrounding Khirbet (=ruins of) Qumran. The texts are the product of a community of [Essenes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Essenes/) who lived in the nearby ruins of Qumran and were composed between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE. They are significant because they shed considerable light on the religious and political world of late Second Temple [Judaism](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/judaism/) and on the text of the Hebrew [Bible](https://www.worldhistory.org/bible/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Nyetta, K. &. (2012, December 13). Dead Sea Scrolls. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Nyetta, Ken &. "Dead Sea Scrolls." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 13, 2012. .
### MLA
Nyetta, Ken &. "Dead Sea Scrolls." *World History Encyclopedia*, 13 Dec 2012, .
## License & Copyright
[](http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjfnjy/5248545727/)This image was first published on [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com). [Original image](http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjfnjy/5248545727/) by [**Ken & Nyetta**](http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjfnjy/5248545727/). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 13 December 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.