Dead Sea scrolls

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dead-sea-scrolls

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date range of composition?Approximately 3rd century BCE to 1st century CE
2. What is the primary languages?Hebrew, Aramaic, and some Greek
3. Where were the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered?They were found in eleven caves close to the ancient settlement of Qumran in the Judean Desert.
4. Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls important?They are the biggest archaeological find of the 20th century and help us learn about Judaism and early Christianity. The scrolls show how the Bible changed over time.

Second Temple Period: The historical era from the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple (c. 516 BCE) until its destruction by the Romans (70 CE).
Masoretic Text: The authoritative medieval Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible, established by the Masoretes.
Sectarian Documents: Texts that reveal the specific beliefs, rules, and practices of particular religious groups, such as the Essenes.