Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered by Bedouin shepherds between 1946 and 1947, are considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Comprising 972 texts, they include copies of the Hebrew Bible and unique sectarian writings. The scrolls were found in caves near Qumran, and evidence suggests they were written by a Jewish sectarian community, possibly the Essenes. Despite the destruction of Qumran in 68 CE, the Essenes may have survived, leaving a lasting impact on religious studies.

What types of texts are found among the Dead Sea Scrolls?

What practices related to ritual purity and communal dining were discovered at Qumran?

What hypothesis do scholars propose regarding the authorship of the Dead Sea Scrolls?