The Dead Sea Scrolls—objects of great mystery, intrigue, and cultural and spiritual significance—are widely acknowledged to be among the greatest archaeological treasures ever discovered. Working in close collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Science Museum of Minnesota produced an original 15,000-square-foot exhibit of these priceless artifacts. The show not only gave visitors a glimpse into life in Israel during the Second Temple Period, but also presented the most recent scientific interpretations of the Dead Sea Scrolls from scholars around the world. Visitors were encouraged to draw their own conclusions about who authored the Scrolls and how these writings influenced the foundation of Western thought and tradition.
At the end of The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, visitors had the opportunity to see The Saint John’s Bible, a presentation of a modern project that uses ancient scribal techniques to relate themes and images from Scripture to the 21st century. The combined exhibits created an experience with monumental artistic and spiritual significance for our time.
This project was supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts
