dead sea

The Dead Sea is the hypersaline lake between Israel, Jordan, and Palestine—so salty that aquatic life can't survive there (34.2% salinity versus ocean's 3.5%). But the cultural anchor is the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered 1946-47 by Bedouin shepherds at Qumran. Over 981 manuscripts emerged from 11 caves, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. They include 200 different copies of Hebrew Bible books—the oldest biblical evidence in the world. Archaeologists unearthed Isaiah, Psalms, and other texts dated to 200 BC, predating all other biblical manuscripts by centuries. One of the 20th century's greatest archaeological discoveries, found by accident by shepherds looking for something to sell. The Dead Sea became synonymous with ancient secrets preserved by salt and time. Watch the documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKjbc66qp3Y.