The last Dead Sea scrolls in the Skullhead

The Israeli Antiquities Agency launched a large-scale archaeological excavation in the cave cluster in the desert of Judea in search of the final Dead Sea scrolls.

The Ancient Origins reported on May 27, the excavation was part of the Israeli Antiquities Ministry's Heritage Project in search of buried scrolls for more than 2,000 years in the cave before they were taken away by thieves.

"For many years, our most important legacy and cultural assets have been unearthed by exploiters and looted in caves in the Judea desert. The purpose of the national plan we are proceeding to excavate and find all the scrolls left in the cave for the government to conserve, " said Yisrael Hasson, head of the Israeli Antiquities Agency.

Two Dead Sea scrolls are found in the Qumran cave in the Judea desert.(Photo: Wikipedia).

The Cave of Skulls , where excavations are taking place, is located 80m from the cliff face and 250m above the river. Due to difficult access to the area, the Israel Antiquities Agency obtained a special permit from the Natural Management Agency and the Park to open a path into the cave.

More than 500 Israeli and foreign volunteers participated in the excavation. They live and sleep at a campsite in desert conditions. Excavations will end after half a month. This time is enough for the team of experts to collect valuable archaeological information from the cave.

More than 50 years ago, an Arab nomadic shepherd accidentally threw a stone into a cave, leading to the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century. The shepherd heard the stone pounding on the earthen jar. When he found out, he found the first Dead Sea scroll .

After sorting out all the scrolls and debris, archaeologists counted 800 manuscript manuscripts. About a quarter of them, more than 200 manuscripts, copy the content from the Bible . Some scrolls focus on interpreting Jewish laws, containing poems and prayers used in ritual ceremonies and prophecies about the end of the world.