A new head of the IAA's DSS unit

INTERVIEW: What is the future of the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls? The new head of the Israel Antiquities Authority Dead Sea Scrolls Unit, archaeologist Joe Uziel, spoke to ‘The Jerusalem Post’ about his vision for his tenure (Rossella Tercatin).

Indeed, the dilemma of whether to preserve the scrolls for future generations or to advance research is one of the fundamental questions that the staff of the unit faces on a daily basis, considering how some of the most interesting research avenues, such as carbon dating or DNA analysis, involve some damage of the material.

“For example, we ask ourselves if today is the time to conduct radio-carbon analysis on the scrolls, when perhaps in one, three or five years, the techniques might be much more developed and less invasive,” Uziel pointed out.

Without expressing a view on this specific question, I note that I have been saying for some time that non-invasive and non-destructive technologies are the future of archaeology. I have some thoughts on related issues here. For lots of specific cases, start here and follow the links.

I noted the 2020 retirement of Pnina Shor, the former director of the unit, here.

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