Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit links up with NOBTS archaeological center

NEW ORLEANS (BP) — The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center in Mobile, Ala., has been selected by the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) to host the traveling Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit Jan. 20 to April 24, 2005. With assistance from New Orleans Seminary, the Exploreum will display 12 authentic Dead Sea scrolls on loan from the IAA.

“These are the oldest surviving texts of the Bible ... the oldest Bible we have,” said Steven Ortiz, director of the Center of Archaeological Research at NOBTS.

The exhibit includes seven 2,000-year-old biblical scrolls with the oldest surviving text of Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah and Jeremiah. The remaining fragments are from sectarian documents found at the Qumran site in Israel. One of 29 Deuteronomy fragments found at Qumran, the one that will be displayed in Mobile, is the only one to include all Ten Commandments.

Additional information about the Exploreum and the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit is available at www.exploreum.net.