Monday, May 11, 2009

SCROLL-BUST UPDATE: Joseph I. Lauer notes that the IAA press release is now at a permanent URL here. Here's the opening again:
A Rare 2,000 Year Old Hebrew Document Written on Papyrus was seized in an Operation (5/5/09)

A document thought to be an ancient text written on papyrus was seized yesterday (Tuesday) in an operation led by the Intelligence Office of the Zion Region and the Undercover Unit of the Border Police in Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery and the Archaeological Staff Officer in the Civil Administration.
The document is written in ancient Hebrew script, which is characteristic of the Second Temple period and the first and second centuries CE. This style of the writing is primarily known from the Dead Sea scrolls and various inscriptions that occur on ossuaries and coffins. The document itself is written on papyrus. The papyrus is incomplete and was in all likelihood rolled up. It is apparent that pieces of it crumbled mainly along its bottom part. The holes along the left part of the document probably attest to the damage that was caused to it over time. The document measures 15 x 15 centimeters.

[...]
Also, the Art Daily has an article based on the press release with the full-sized photograph included. It's nice that a good photo has been published so quickly. And hats off to the Israeli police for catching this one.

Background here.