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Re: chatter about "scroll-jars"
It depends on how you want to define the "type." If the type is based on
the relatively rare (among large pottery jars of this period in
Palestine-Syria) appearance of a wide-mouth, then there have been a few
similar jars found near Jericho. If the type is defined by the rather long
and straight body with a rather flat bottom, then the jars are distinctive
to the Qumran site and a cave or two.
So far Paul V. M. Flesher
But I will repeat my request that somebody should make this analysis
of the clay. If the clay originated around Qumran, the question as to
the provenience of the jars would be settled and that would be a
strong argument in favor of somebody around here.
Such an analysis should have been carried out many years ago. It has
nothing to do with logistics and money. So many other comparable
analyses have been done. Are somebody afraid of the result?
A parallel would be the by now almost infamous tel Dan inscription.
Is it an old or a modern fake? A technician at our dig this summer
told me that it could be clarified by an analysis of the stone
itself, which when in contact with certain chemicals would react
differently if it is a modern fake (will sweet differently in the
letter inscribed on the stone).
Again in both cases it looks as if somebody prefer to remain
insecure, since it leaves more space for the phantacy.
NPL
Niels Peter Lemche
Dep. Biblical Studies
University of Copenhagen
Phone: 45 49 13 81 24
Fax: 45 49 13 81 28
e-mail: npl@teol.ku.dk