This is a phrase uttered by one of the leading researchers of the Dead Sea Scrolls:
“Each fragment found at Qumran not only reveals old word, but also the silences of a civilization that even we cannot understand.”
— Geza Vermes (1924-2013), historian and biblical scholar specializing in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Riddles central is still open
1) Who exactly were the authors/owners of the library?
The classic says, “the essenes of Qumran”, but today there is no final consensus: there is a hypothesis essene, variants (sadocitas, related groups), and models “non-sectarian” (tank mixed-brought from Jerusalem or libraries, various). The archaeology of the settlement allows different readings (monastery essene, villa/trading post, fort, workshop), and no end to the debate completely.
What's missing: to correlate better stratigraphy, functional spaces and manuscripts; scale analysis of materials (DNA, inks, fibers) and the provenance secure fragments.
2) What is the exact relationship between Qumran and the essenes of the classical sources?
The descriptions of Josephus, Philo and Pliny did not fit perfectly with the archaeological record, and textual. The identification “one to one” remains a reasonable inference, not a certainty demonstrated.
What's missing: indicators epigraphic unequivocal in situ or findings that bind directly names/groups of sources with the spaces of Qumran.
3) Who was the Master of Justice (Teacher of Righteousness) and who is the Priest Wicked?
The historical figures behind these nicknames for the pesharim continue without signing in with security. Have been proposed different names (priests asmoneos, Hyrcanus II, etc), but there is no conclusive evidence.
What's missing: synchronize timelines, internal texts with events that are verifiable (numismatics, epigraphy) and new manuscripts/readings that give you names of their own.
4) What is the role of met exactly the settlement of Qumran?
Even with excavations and studies, there is no agreement: monastery essene and scriptorium vs. alternative interpretations (villa, because productive, fortification). Architecture pools/miqva'ot, workshops, kilns, ovens) allows for more than one reading.
What's missing: mapping functional finest, microarqueología waste, and direct correlation with the practices described in Rule of the Community and Document Damascus.
5) What is the all coming real of many fragments and how to assemble?
Numerous fragments lack of provenance of archaeological controlled (market of antiquaries of 40-60), which makes it hard to know what cave come and how to recompose rolls. The opening of “Cave 12” (2017) showed, in addition, looting ancient.
What's missing: expand Ancient DNA scrolls and tanning substances, analysis of fibers/trace elements and hyperspectral imaging for re-grouping fragments for “family supplies.”
6) how came the counterfeiting modern?
Research Museum of the Bible he demonstrated that all its 16 “fragments RMM” were false modernwhich forces re-audit in private collections and pieces without context.
What's missing: protocols shared (ink, collagen, spectroscopy, isotopes, DNA) and publishing open from raw data to validate or discard parts doubtful.
7) What treasure really describes the Roll of Copper (3Q15)?
The list of deposits metallic/treasures could be real, symbolic or “inventory ideological”. There is No correlate archaeological confirmed for their locations and amounts.
What's missing: re-evaluate toponymy old with GIS/LIDAR, field campaigns targeting and a chronology, the more accurate of the text and its dialect.
8) What as “sectarian” texts are “sectarian”?
The Document Damascus, the Rule, the Pesharim, etc, show rules/theologies singular (solar calendar, purity, halachah), but circulation outside of Qumran and its origins are not entirely clear; the “mobility” of traditions is greater than previously believed.
What's missing: mapping networks of textual (Qumran–Damascus–Masada–Naḥal Ḥever) and its evolution.
9) What canon biblical used? What we say the variants?
The DSS show pluriformity in the text (proto-MT, related to the LXX texts “non-aligned”). We don't know if the community recognized a “canon” closed. The absence of Esther it can be casual or programmatic; it is still open.
What's missing: more dating (C-14) and matches systematic book/gender to measure authority liturgical vs. exegetical.
10) What internal chronology exact have several manuscripts key?
The datings paleográficas and by C-14 often coincide, but there are cases ambiguous and the problem of contaminants (oils, preservatives) and skins reused.
What's missing: series C-14 with cleaning chemical advanced, cross-checks of tanning and new calibration curves; IA applied to dating paleográfica.
11) how Many scribes intervened and how they worked?
The AI applied to the Great scroll of Isaiah (1QIsaa) showed that at least two scribes copied with styles that are very close. The full scope of this co-writing in the rest of the corpus is still unknown.
What's missing: we extend these methods (strokes/letters) to other manuscripts and relate them to schools/write concrete.
12) how far reaching the links with the judaism of the Second Temple and the early christianity?
The DSS illuminate debates about calendar, purity, eschatology; but not tested direct contacts with John the Baptist or Jesus. The claims of fragments of the NT in the Cave 7 (e.g., 7Q5=Mark) are widely refuted in academic circles.
What's missing: best chronology of the pesharim and linguistic analysis/rhetorical fine to distinguish convergence of influences real.
13) What community practices not end-of-set (family, women, marriage)?
The texts imply strict rules, but it is difficult to outline family structure, the role of women and disciplinary mechanisms beyond the normative ideal. The archaeological evidence does not close the box.
What's missing: new normative texts and correlates bioarqueológicos (e.g., human DNA old reliable, if one day we were ethically viable).
14) what Are caves and texts to discover?
The “Cave 12” revealed containers and ties without rolls (probably looting of the ’50) and leaves open the possibility more deposits in the region.
What's missing: systematic prospecting (LIDAR/automation), and protection against expoliadores.
15) What readings remain hidden in fragments damaged?
Yet there are passages of unreadable or doubtful. The image multispectral and hyperspectral's Leon Levy DSS Digital Library (IAA) advancing, but all is not recoverable still.
What's missing: new spectral bands, IA reconstruction of strokes and integrations with chemical data of ink/media.
Specific issues with open-ended questions
- Roll of the War and eschatology: does it reflect a military program real or a symbolic model-liturgical? Failure to anchor it in events that are verifiable.
- Pesharim (comments prophetic): layers editorial and dating internal are still under discussion; even in 1QpHab proposed additions are late.
- Connection Qumran–Masada–Naḥal Ḥever: what circulation of texts or transfers in times of war roman-jewish? The plot is not resolved.
Methodologies that are now changing what we “do not know”
- DNA of scrolls: has allowed us to regroup fragments and question the powers of a cave or drive roll, but your coverage is still partial.
- AI and palaeography quantitative: id hands-and-windows-time-more accurate in cases such as 1QIsaa.
- Hyper spectral imaging: improves readings in fragments, blackened and corrects ancient editions.
- Audits of authenticity: protocols post-event Museum of the Bible in order to prevent further counterfeiting.
What certainty we do have (and its limits)
- General timeline: most of the manuscripts are dated between c. 250.C. and 70 d.C. (some up to 135 d.C. for the desert of Judah). C-14 and palaeography match in the thickwith exceptions, and discussions by pollution.
- Plurality textual: co-existed biblical traditions various (proto-MT, related to the LXX, not aligned). The “canon” was not closed as of later centuries.
- Context sectarian: there is a normative core (Rule, Damascus, Pesharim), but its social extension and their names continue without a tie.
Lines of research that can unlock puzzles
- Prospecting in caves, not carved out of the desert of Judah (with protection anti-looting).
- Integrated programs: DNA+chemical ink+isotopes+hyperspectral imaging for re-assemble rolls per footprint material” and restore backgrounds.
- Palaeography-assisted AI a large-scale map schools of scribes and networks of copy.
- Reconsidering critical of pesharim with chronologies cross (numismatics, stratigraphy, prosopografía).
Conclusion
What not determined of the DSS focuses on historic identities (characters and group), origin and assembly material of part of the corpus, exact function of Qumran, status of the “canon”, and circulation of textual, and the complete reading texts damaged. The techno-science (DNA, IA, hyperspectral, chemistry of inks) is already changing the mapbut still does not offer “verdicts unique” about authors, places and timelines fine. The critical consensus it is modest, and dynamic; the “big question” is whether new caves or techniques will close—or reformulate—these puzzles.
