Re: [Megillot] Qumran cemetery-the skeletons

[David Stacey]

Joe et al. First of all I should like to make the point that I have received no media attention since the publication of my picture, as a 'British volunteer',  in Yadin's popular book on Masada and in an article he wrote for the London 'Observer' colour supplement back in 1966! Neither have I ever received interview fees from the BBC or the world's press!   I agree that Qumran was never ever self-sufficient but doubt very much that it was  a 'closed theological society' for any length of time. Let me try to summarise briefly:- 1. 100 - 31 BCE Qumran  established as a seasonally-occupied  industrial 'satellite' of the Royal Estate in Jericho, which supplied it with basic food etc.  Involved in the transport of partially processed balsam from Ein Gedi for final refining in Jericho. (Hasmoneans would not have tolerated any sort of 'independent' Qumran not under its control). 2. 31 - 4 BCE Following the earthquake the water collecting system was rapidly rebuilt and expanded by Herod who needed a depot where personnel and both building and food supplies bound, in particular, for Masada, could be unloaded before transfer to boats. Jericho would have had a resident gang of  'water engineers' with years of experience building, maintaining and expanding the water infrastructure in the Royal estate, Cypros, Dok etc. Their expertise was utilised to hurriedly build the fairly unsophisticated water system at Qumran but was particularly needed to insure  plentiful water at Masada where Herod had sent his two sons and his mother to live. Seasonal industries and transport of balsam continue. 3. 4 BCE - 48 CE Supplying of Masada etc ceases with death of Herod. Seasonal industries continue. Strong centralised  balsam industry gradually disintegrates until  the industrial area and the surviving buildings in Jericho are abandoned, perhaps after the earthquake of 48CE. Balsam industry left to individual entrepreneurs - see Roman garrison documents from Masada. 4. 48 - 68 CE ?Qumran  unoccupied?   Qumran far too involved in Hasmonean/Herodian affairs. No place for a closed theological society (except, perhaps, in Period 4??) although the people living in Qumran may well have been Essene.   Period 1. Jericho estate required huge increase in labour force.  Essenes, as Agriculturalists, probably welcomed. (Not all Essenes were 'theologians' anymore than all Catholics live in monasteries!) Qumran  not a popular posting as dirty and relatively isolated but may have been attractive to a group of workers with common interest, eg Essenes? Period 2. Small number of permanent occupants drawn from same group of workers as had for many years supplied the seasonal labour force. Quartermaster had to be literate (used inkwell!) so that he could keep account of goods coming in and going out to various destinations. Period 3. A period of decline. Caravan traffic much reduced. Jericho in decline and probably unable to continue supporting Qumran. Small population established in Qumran in a dilemma as they now had to try to supplement their declining income/subsidy. Beside seasonal occupations expanded the digging of graves in the cemetery. Big advantage of Qumran cemetery - graves were dug into marl not rock. No need to hammer away at the bedrock with a chisel for a week or two; two men with picks could dig a grave in a day. Therefore graves much cheaper than rock cut tombs - You accept that bodies were brought in from outside - most likely from Jerusalem where no alternative to expensive rock-cut graves. Even the 'Qumran' style graves excavated south of Jerusalem are rock cut.    Re Jericho cemeteries: I  participated in the Haclili cemetery excavation so know that only a small part of the overall cliffface cemetery was excavated. Who knows what there might be elsewhere? Kenyon did excavate some 'Qumran' style graves did she not? I don't have the literature to hand but believe that they were rockcut and mainly the result of accidental finding rather than systematic and extensive excavation (correct me if I'm wrong). I also excavated a very small area of a cemetery dug into the marl near to Tel es-Sammarat. The graves dated from EBIV, MBII, LB and late 2nd cent BCE (those that were dateable - there were several very poor graves which were little more than shallow scoops which, tentatively, were 1st cent BCE)   and were buried in spoil from levelling operations for Herod's hippodrome (see my 'Tombs in the Vicinity of the Hippodrome at Jericho' in Netzer's Jericho VOl II pp 226-232. A full archaeological and anthropological report with photos was deposited with the IAA should you wish to read it, -  under Ehud's name as it was dug under his licence). Although no Qumran style grave was found there is a huge area which has never been excavated both under the hippodrome and between it and the scarp to its west, where many, many marl-dug graves could exist. [Incidentally the grave of the Seleucid warrior is, perhaps, a close parallel to T1000 in Qumran]. Continued expansion of agricultural estate, and the building of the hippodrome, clearly meant that this area could no longer be used as a cemetery. Shift to Qumran??   Enough for now   David   ----- Original Message -----