The Dead Sea Scrolls are undoubtedly the most important archaeological discovery ever made in the Holy Land. Two bedouins found the first seven scrolls in 1947 in a cave near Qumran. Eventually, 11 caves around Qumran proved to contain scrolls or fragments of them. In total, 20 complete scrolls and another 16,000 fragments of scrolls were recorded.
A French expedition found the Copper Scroll in 1952 in the furthest cave from Qumran. The scroll was all intact, but unfolding was a challenge, and only then was it read. It lists 60 locations, each containing a hoard of gold, silver, and temple utensils. This scroll generated much speculation and research in the hope of tracking these treasures.
This specially designed private tour will first take you to the cave where the Copper Scroll was found. After a complete reading of the text, it will lead you to some locations where excavations were carried out, hoping to see one of the treasures.
So prepare your whip and Indiana Jones hat – We’re going for some serious treasure hunting!
Next, we will drive up the steep dirt road into the Judean Desert. We will navigate a specific spot in Hyrcania Valley, where a mysterious tunnel was excavated some years ago. Paragraph 1 in the Copper Scroll describes treasure hidden “under the steps facing east at Haruba, in Achor valley.” This mysterious stepped tunnel was excavated and proved to be oabout 300 feet deep. What was it dug for? And by whom? Were treasures hidden here?? We will crawl into it with headlamps and try to figure it out.
