Scientific research on the Dead Sea Scrolls: facts and context

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1965 in various caves, are among the most remarkable archaeological finds of the last century. These texts, primarily Jewish writings over 2,000 years old—including the oldest manuscripts of the Bible—were found in areas such as Qumran. At the time, these areas fell under different authorities: the British Mandate territory, Jordanian-occupied territory, and Israeli territory. No new Dead Sea Scrolls have been discovered since 1965.

Openness and global collaboration in research

Research on the Dead Sea Scrolls takes place worldwide, including in the Middle East. The primary sources are freely available to anyone wishing to conduct research: in printed editions, translations, and via online images on public websites.

The University of Groningen (UG) has been conducting scientific research on the Dead Sea Scrolls for years and makes the acquired knowledge publicly available, among other channels through the Qumran Institute. This research, like all our other work, is based on the fundamental principles that safeguard the integrity, reliability, and societal relevance of science.

Clarification on collaboration in the Tracing Scribes and Scrolls project

The Tracing Scribes and Scrolls project is funded by the European Research Council (ERC). In this research project, the UG collaborates with European partners (Pisa, Naples, Odense, Turin, Leuven, and Berlin) and with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The IAA has custody of the majority of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Recent media attention has raised questions about the collaboration between the UG and the IAA, particularly regarding a possible link with archaeological excavations on the West Bank. 

• Excavations on the West Bank fall under the responsibility of a different body, the Archaeological Staff Officer of the Civil Administration. The UG does not collaborate with this body.

• The UG does collaborate with the IAA, which has no authority over excavations on the West Bank. This has been formally confirmed by the IAA itself.

Separation between research and politics

The UG’s research focuses solely on the scientific study of the Dead Sea Scrolls as historical Jewish texts. There is no connection between this academic effort and the current political reality in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, the West Bank, or Gaza.

The UG takes its responsibility seriously to address questions from the community, in line with our core scientific values. We understand that current events affect everyone and that images of suffering leave a deep impression. Like many others, we are deeply concerned. Our focus remains on objective research and knowledge sharing.