Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #509892 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 238 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780802826879
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Review
"An admirably clear and concise progress report on what is known about this spectacular discovery."

Customer Reviews

All things old...
The archaeology and scriptural/textual studies of the Dead Sea Scrolls have held the public imagination for much of the past half-century. Since the first Scrolls were discovered not far from the ancient site of Qumran in the late 1940s, there has been an air of mystery and intrigue around them unlike almost any other archaeological find. This is largely because of the association with the text of the Bible and the undeniable impact it has had on modern culture. The book The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls is a welcome addition to the ranks of basic introductory texts on the topic.

The author, Jodi Magness, is on the faculty of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her professional interests centre largely on early Judaism, and include such topics as ancient pottery, ancient synagogue architecture and construction, the role of the Roman Army in the Eastern Empire, and, of course, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Qumrani settlement. An experienced field archaeologist, she has participated in twenty different excavations in the Middle East and Greece, including work at Masada, the great fortress in the south of Israel that was a `last stand' spot during the Jewish revolt against the Romans.

An Introduction to the Archaeology of Qumran
In her first chapter, Magness looks at the basics of Qumran. Not a tourist hot-spot until fairly recently, for much of its excavation history it has been a desolate and remote location. One problem Magness highlights is that the primary person associated with archaeological excavation of Qumran, Roland de Vaux, who was also part of the controversial scroll research and translation team, never published a final report on his archaeological studies. There were several preliminary and introductory reports (not all of which have been made available in English translation to this day), but de Vaux died before finishing. Truth be told, this is not a problem unique to de Vaux or to Qumran, and publications such as Biblical Archaeology Review have highlighted the problem of archaeologists who do not follow through with their research by putting it into publication.

Magness cautions against looking at her work as anything definitive. This is more of an introduction and overview of the current state of affairs. She gives further in this chapter a brief introduction for the untrained in archaeological methodology, a survey of dating techniques, and a look at why Qumran is controversial. Arachaeology is far from an exact science; dependent upon interpretation and knowledge of ancient human behaviours, it is subject to multiple interpretations and constant revision in the light of new finds. Qumran is awash in multiple interpretations as to the nature of the community there and the use of rooms and artifacts found there.

Subsequent chapters cover the following topic in some detail, outlining continuing areas of question and controversy, as well as Magness's own theories.

-The Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Exploration of Qumran
-The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Community at Qumran
-The Buildings and Occupation Phases of Qumran
-What Do Pottery and Architecture Tell Us about Qumran?
-Communal Meals, a Toilet, and Sacred Space at Qumran
-Miqva'ot at Qumran
-Women and the Cemetery at Qumran
-The Temple Tax, Clothing, and the Anti-Hellenizing Attitude of the Sectarians

The Settlements at Ein Feshkha and Ein el-Ghuweir

Magness concludes by looking at two settlements also at the north end of the Dead Sea that have a relationship with Qumran. She describes the layout and buildings, as well as some of the finds associated with them. Magness is wary of direct connections being assumed between Qumran and these other nearby settlements. In some cases time frame conflicts, and in others simply a lack of any direct evidence leads to her suspicion. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence and she allows that there might have been relationship between the three sites.

Extra stuff
At the beginning of the book is a brief introduction followed by a series of plates, maps and line-art drawings. Sixty-six figures in all, these are all placed up front for ready reference, as many will be useful and referred to again and again throughout the text of the chapters.

In addition to these chapters, Magness includes indexes in several different categories. There is an index by Author and Contemporary Historical Figures; there is an index of Scrolls, Biblical Books, Extrabiblical Books, and Historical Figures; and there is an index of Sites and Place Names. These, in addition to the general index, make this a very practical and useful book for ready research.

At the conclusion of each chapter, Magness has a narrative bibliography directing the reader/researcher to more broad and in-depth information about the topics discussed. Given the recent publication date, this information makes this text a great ready-reference resource for further Dead Sea Scroll and Qumran research.

Strong on archaeology weak on history
Aimed, it seems, rather more at the academic scholar, the book offers some useful insights into the archaeology of Qumran and its associated sites - evidenced by the academic level of the above reviews. For the lay person, however, it will prove rather hard going.
Magness is a consensus supporter, but it is refreshing to read some subjects looked at from a feminine viewpoint; a direction most consensus and other male commentators rarely bother to address. She thus considers the role of women in the 'Essene' set up, in terms of dress, burial, adornments, artefacts, and ritual participation, more acutely than others.
In supporting the main contentions of Roland de Vaux and the Ecole team, she follows the main line, that Qumran was a sectarian settlement and the occupants wrote and possessed what are referred to as the Dead Sea Scrolls. In the light of the evidence, which she sets out rather well, and the conclusions of other high-powered scholars like George Brooke, Geza Vermes, Rohrhirsch, Schiffman, Lim etc it is perplexing that some other, quite respected scholars, still persist in postulating weired theories about the purpose of the Qumran Community. A test of their credibility in this respect is that they are invariably lone voices, with few supporters, touting theories that conflict with all the other lone voices as well as the mainstream. Their voices tend to become increasingly strident and ears increasingly muffled as they become more isolated. Magness has little time for these alternative theories, and shows it somewhat abrasively.
If there are weaknesses in her presentation they relate to her historical analyses. As she rightly points out herself archaeologists look at materials and historians look at texts. As an archaeologist she is strong in the former area but weak in the latter and perhaps should not have expressed so many strong opinions on matters of historical texts. For instance she refers to the Copper Scroll, as being insribed on "sheets of bronze". How can copper be bronze? All the analytical evidence shows that the original materials was at least 99% pure copper. She states the Masoretic Text became authoritative c 100 CE, whereas the Masoretic Text was not standardised until the 10th century CE. She misunderstands the relationship of the Yahad (Community)stream to the First Temple, let alone the Second and the significance of the Essenes in relations to the New Testament.
Magness is on firmer ground with her archaeological assessments, but even here her new chronology is not completely convincing. She has the 'Essenes' coming to Qumran c 100 BCE wherreas de Vaux estimates 130 BCE, and I favour an even earlier date. Part of her reasoning is that "De Vaux found no coins associated with Period 1a", whereas he found pottery and at least 11 coins dated to c135 BC. In considering the numismatics of the site she makes no mention that a huge proportion of the original finds have 'gone missing', which together with the fact that de Vaux's orignal notes have still not been made available, means any firm chronology is even more difficult to determine.
One uncorrected typo gives the distance of Cave 4 to Khirbet Qumran as 500 m, whereas it is actually more like 250 m. This is particularly unfortunate as the proximity of Cave 4 is significant in making the case for a connectioon between the caves and the settlement.
When it comes to digging around in the cemetery there is one statement that needs explanation, especially in relation to my own recently published study. Magness refers to nine skeletons that were recently discovered in storage in Jerusalem. This statement conflicts with other reports.

A Well-written Study
In this well-written study Jodi Magness helps us see how people lived at Qumran and why they did things as they did. Unlike many scholars, Jodi Magness is persoanl in her reporting and evaluating. She speaks from experience as a working archaeologist. The Intoduction the Archaeology of Qumran is a fascinating overview of the field. Maps and illustrations add to the value of the introduction and the chapters which follow. Each of the ten chapters has an extensive bibliography to encourage in-depth study. Reading this book will not only add depth to Bible study but it will challenge the reader to see and appreciate more the world around him. What do the items found in our own backyards tell about people who lived where we do? Jodi Magness teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has participated in 20 different excavations in Israel and Greece.