Hi Ed, Thanks for you message. I believe the issues that you raise are indeed significant, though I guess I don't let my concerns about "how I wish it could have been" dampen my excitement of the discovery/recovery of this scroll.
When we look back at the history of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, most of the scrolls were not found in "controlled excavations" and many of them were purchased from antiquities dealers -- and other shady dealings. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that way the scrolls were discovered was ideal -- nothing could be further from the truth! My point is that it is not an ideal world and we have to work with what we got. I can't realty comment about the other mss published in DSD 12/2, but in regards to the Leviticus fragments let me say the following: 1) The Eshels were not looking for or advertising for looted fragments. Quite the opposite, they are some of the very few scholars who are working in the Judaean desert doing surveys and controlled excavations looking for new discoveries. Hanan was pretty sure that if he would have had more time and money he would have found the scroll himself as he was working close to the cave where they were found. 2) When the Leviticus fragments were first shown to Hanan, he did not pursue the purchase. He did not haggle with them for months or anything like that. He had to leave a few days later to teach in the US so he in fact didn't pursue them in any way. 3) When Hanan got back to Israel and discovered that the fragments were still around and that they were being further damaged by the Bedouin, only then did he purchase them on behalf Bar Ilan University and turn them over to the Antiquities Authority (AA). 4) Perhaps Hanan should have alerted the Antiquities Authority earlier. I think that is a fair criticism. Hanan's response to my questions about this very issue was that he thought he made the right decision considering the circumstances. I have no personal knowledge of the workings of the AA, but while Hanan praised their work, he also noted how over-worked they are. He is quite skeptical about whether or not they would have been able to give the fragments the same amount of attention as he was able to give them (and find out where they were found, etc.). I'm not sure what I personally would have done if I was in Hanan's shoes. I would like to think that I would have at least informed the AA sooner, and perhaps let them know that I was going to pursue their purchase or work with them for a sting operation, or something like that. I don't know. I know that it would have been unfortunate if the scroll fragments were not uncovered. Quite frankly, we don't know what would have happened. 5) In regards to why Hanan believes that the new Leviticus scroll was discovered where his informant stated that it was, I thought that I already answered that in my initial blog entry on my interview with Hanan (http://biblical-studies.ca/blog/2005/07/interview-with-hanan-eshel-about.ht ml), but let me expand. From what Hanan said to me, after securing the fragments he was taken to the cave where the fragments were purportedly found. From a controlled examination of the cave, Hanan found evidence that the cave had been looted by Bedouin in August of 2004 (e.g., metal poles that they walked into the cave on were still in the wall [I believe] and he found newspapers dated to August 2004 in the cave). He also found pottery and textiles consistent with others from the Bar Kokhba period in the cave. He also reported that the Bedouin said that they had found B-K coins in the cave. So, again, while he did not find the fragments in situ, I think that it is pretty clear that the proper cave was identified. Anyhow, I don't see it is my role to defend Hanan's actions (and I hope I represented what happened as accurately as possible). I personally do think that he should be given a break, but perhaps my sympathy is misplaced. I do know that the result of all of this is that fragments of a Leviticus scroll have been uncovered, and I think that is news worthy of drool! That doesn't mean we don't need to talk about what should have been done -- especially as a guide to what should be done in the future. Just my thoughts. Have a great weekend everyone, -Tyler -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Edward Cook Sent: July 29, 2005 12:37 PM To: Tyler Williams Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Megillot] New Leviticus Scroll Picture Uploaded Tyler, you've done a great job writing about these fragments. But I wish that scholars would step back from their excitement about this new text to think more carefully about the conditions under which this text, and the others that the Eshels have recently published in DSD 12/2, have come to light. None of them were discovered in controlled excavations, and in fact, the DSD fragments were acquired privately by antiquities collectors Bruce Ferrini and Lee Biondi from the family of Kando. I wouldn't presume to comment on the legality of these acquisitions, but Messrs. Ferrini and Biondi have been involved in several antiquities deals that have raised eyebrows internationally, and their traveling Qumran exhibit has a troubled history. Hanan and Esti Eshel are fine scholars, but some questions have to be asked about their judgment in becoming involved with these people. Can we all stop drooling and start wondering why 4Q texts are being peddled at this late date to American wheeler-dealers or their surrogates? Can we ask what reasons Hanan has to believe that the new Leviticus scroll was "discovered" (looted) where his informant stated that it was? Edward Cook On Friday, July 29, 2005, at 02:03 PM, Tyler Williams wrote: > FYI: I have uploaded a new photograph of the Leviticus scroll > fragments to > my blog. The picture was taken by Hanan Eshel on the night he first > saw the > fragments (23 August 2004). > > http://biblical-studies.ca/blog/index.html > > Apologies for the cross-postings. > > Have a great weekend, everyone! > > -Tyler > > :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: > :: :: > Tyler F. Williams > Home Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Work: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Codex: Resources for Biblical Studies: http://biblical-studies.ca > > Chair, Religion & Theology Department, Assistant Professor of Old > Testament > Taylor University College | 11525 - 23 Avenue, Edmonton, AB Canada T6J > 4T3 > Phone: (780) 431-5217 | Fax: (780) 436-9416 > > > _______________________________________________ > g-Megillot mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://mailman.McMaster.CA/mailman/listinfo/g-megillot > _______________________________________________ g-Megillot mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.McMaster.CA/mailman/listinfo/g-megillot _______________________________________________ g-Megillot mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.McMaster.CA/mailman/listinfo/g-megillot
