The Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient Jewish religious manuscripts found in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea, are dated from approximately 300 BCE to 100 CE. Initially discovered in 1946 and 1947 in the Qumran caves, the writings include the second-oldest known manuscripts of text included in the Hebrew Bible.
Based on your reading about the history of written communication, why are these documents a significant example of how communication methods advanced throughout history?
Because the scrolls were hidden for around 2,000 years, they reflect a medium of communication that was unknown in the modern world until they were discovered.
Writings such as the scrolls have been used by historians to verify the authenticity of some of the text of the Hebrew Bible as well as shed light on the culture of the day.
The writings were of significance because they were examples of artifacts of importance and antiquity pertaining to the history and culture of the region.
Writings like the scrolls are an example of how people were able to communicate with others in different locations and beyond their own times using a more portable medium.