Could this be the biggest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls?

I wonder what they'll end up discovering about all of this. I'm always amazed when things like this survive so many years, even after seeing just how many items have. Talk about monumental
[not sure where to put this, so I put it here lol not sure if it's better-placed elsewhere]

The article has more to it:
www.dailymail.co.uk...

Could this be the biggest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Seventy metal books found in cave in Jordan could change our view of Biblical history
By FIONA MACRAE
Last updated at 8:36 PM on 30th March 2011

For scholars of faith and history, it is a treasure trove too precious for price.
This ancient collection of 70 tiny books, their lead pages bound with wire, could unlock some of the secrets of the earliest days of Christianity.

Academics are divided as to their authenticity but say that if verified, they could prove as pivotal as the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947.

On pages not much bigger than a credit card, are images, symbols and words that appear to refer to the Messiah and, possibly even, to the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

Adding to the intrigue, many of the books are sealed, prompting academics to speculate they are actually the lost collection of codices mentioned in the Bible’s Book Of Revelation.

The books were discovered five years ago in a cave in a remote part of Jordan to which Christian refugees are known to have fled after the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. Important documents from the same period have previously been found there.

Initial metallurgical tests indicate that some of the books could date from the first century AD.

This estimate is based on the form of corrosion which has taken place, which experts believe would be impossible to achieve artificially.

If the dating is verified, the books would be among the earliest Christian documents, predating the writings of St Paul.

The prospect that they could contain contemporary accounts of the final years of Jesus’s life has excited scholars – although their enthusiasm is tempered by the fact that experts have previously been fooled by sophisticated fakes.

David Elkington, a British scholar of ancient religious history and archeology, and one of the few to have examined the books, says they could be ‘the major discovery of Christian history’.

‘It is a breathtaking thought that we have held these objects that might have been held by the early saints of the Church,’ he said.

But the mysteries between their ancient pages are not the books’ only riddle. Today, their whereabouts are also something of a mystery. After their discovery by a Jordanian Bedouin, the hoard was subsequently acquired by an Israeli Bedouin, who is said to have illegally smuggled them across the border into Israel, where they remain.

However, the Jordanian Government is now working at the highest levels to repatriate and safeguard the collection. Philip Davies, emeritus professor of biblical studies at Sheffield University, said there was powerful evidence that the books have a Christian origin in plates cast into a picture map of the holy city of Jerusalem.

Its potential is awesome but the current owners wont let anyone see whats in there,just bits and pieces....I say photograph every page and release the pics to the world

reply to post by Homedawg
I agree! To be able to see that up close though, must be beautiful

Was just about to delete most of this thread though (well..as much as I can) since I found it elsewhere in Alt. News. I tried the search before starting this thread, but didn't have any luck with the search terms I used. Found it after looking around lol Admins can delete if needed.

www.the blaze.com has all the news you cant get anywhere else...saw this 1st on there

Fascinating find but already posted here

reply to post by Homedawg
Aw, thank you for that I appreciate it. Waiting to see if the news tonight will mention anything about this, as well. Also still wondering what they've found in that time capsule found in Christchurch after the earthquake.

reply to post by Versa
As well as here, it seems.

Originally posted by Homedawg
Its potential is awesome but the current owners wont let anyone see whats in there,just bits and pieces....I say photograph every page and release the pics to the world

I wonder whats in it that they dont want us to see?

i really dont think this is gonna be of any great importance...to me the story of jesus has been around for a few millenia...i believe that it could be like a book for a child to learn the story...not a actual record of it...like a book used in todays sunday schools for children...why couldnt they have had this kinda teaching back then too? too pass the word,to learn the story

reply to post by Homedawg



I always like finding new good news sources. However, that site's headlines I have seen, and I personally dont think Glenn Beck is a good news source, pro conservative or not.

But thank you for sharing

Originally posted by Debunker75
reply to post by Versa

 

As well as here, it seems.

lol yes its a great find and bound to attract a lot of attention

Originally posted by Versa
Fascinating find but already posted here

Correct.

The topic in BAN can stay, as we allow a BAN thread and a dedicated forum topic to co-exist, but this one will be closed.

Please post in either of the two threads.