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Re: orion "traders of the lost scrolls"

Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 15:55:07 +0000 (GMT)
From: Marcus Wood <M.E.M.Wood@durham.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: orion "traders of the lost scrolls"


Dear Jim / Fellow Orionites

The program "Traders of the Lost Scrolls" was aired in the UK on the 2nd
November. It focuses on the original discovery of the Scrolls in 1947 by
the Bedouins and the continuing effort by those such as Hanun Ershel,
Schiffman, and Charlesworth to unearth other scrolls from the Qumran
corpus: either through the discovery of a cave twelve; or (Charlesworth)
by chasing down rumours of (a) collectors of such documents and (b) the
Bedouin who even now according to Charlesworth hoard such scrolls.

The film is interesting, so far as it goes, but hardly revolutionary.
Charlesworth is displayed in the Indiana Jones mould, complete with hat
but lacking the whip, and some of the places visited, e.g. Petra, are
intended to evoke the same reaction! Nevertheless, there are some
interesting aspects of the film, particularly the use of advanced computer
technology to reveal previously illegible pieces of text. Some of the
conclusions garnered, however, are at the very least questionable.

The film is well worth watching, though, on the whole. As to where a copy
can be gained, however, I have no idea. Since it is a BBC production,
though, I would suggest contacting them - it should be fairly easy to find
on the web.

Marcus Wood
Department of Theology
University of Durham

On Sat, 15 Nov 1997, Jim West wrote:

> Colleagues,
> 
> On the Princeton Sem. web site the following announcement is found:
> 
> 
> Traders of the Lost Scrolls
> 
>     Princeton, NJ, October 31, 1997 - The BBC/CTVTV
>     documentary television film Traders of the Lost Scrolls will
>     receive its U.S. Premiere on Sunday, November 9 at 4:00
>     p.m. on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary as part
>     of the Jubilee Symposium on the Dead Sea Scrolls. The film will
>     be shown in room 6 of Stuart Hall.
> 
> my question- has anyone seen this film or know where it can be acquired?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jim
> 
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Jim West
> Adjunct Professor of Bible
> Quartz Hill School of Theology
> 
> jwest@highland.net
> 
>