The sun was merciless as was always the case near the Dead Sea,
On the northwestern shore a mile away if you follow me,
Are some caves in Qumran where in 1946 at a certain spot,
A bedouin shepherd stumbled on a cave that housed a clay pot.
It was his cousin who noticed the cave but Muhhamed who fell in,
Amongst the dust and debris he found
clay jars scattered therein,
Which revealed seven scrolls that they took to show their family,
Though they treated them with care and as relics respectfully.
Kept on tent polls whilst they showed others who came to visit,
They left them with a dealer in Bethlehem for a bit,
Only for him to return them as worthless and perhaps stolen,
Then they tried a market and were directed where to go then.
They found a part time cobbler turned antiques dealer to try,
And left a scroll with him but sold three more to another guy,
So for a mere pittance these valuable documents change hands,
Time and again plenty view them but none of them understands.
It was two years later a general press release came out then,
About the Dead Sea scrolls that had been found by the men,
And the search began to locate that cave in the then Jordan,
But it was not until January 1949 they found it again in Qumran.
Here where the salt air drifts to the mile long range of rock,
Where humidity preserves and shepherds drive their flock,
With bedouins and experts alike joining the search for more,
They were to discover twelve caves in their efforts to explore.
Here in ancient times only a mile from Bethlehem the Essenes live,
A sect devoted to writing and preserving sacred texts that give
A direct account at the time of Jesus from 2BC to 1AD about,
That they influenced him at least their seems but little doubt.
They found almost a thousand writings in those caves,
Pieced meticulously and patiently together our science saves
For us copies of passages of the Hebrew Old Testament,
Written by the contemporaries of Jesus a wonder was sent.
Imagine a separatist Jewish group away from the rest,
Living so near at a time when events could have been impressed
On them and their writings helping us learn new information,
About a time and a culture which fascinates every generation.
Imagine the Romans are coming to wipe out the sect,
Torches and legions arrive but they already suspect,
And have hidden their precious cache of parchments and papyri,
In the caves high in the rocks lost even to an inquisitive eye.
Part of the marvel is not just the content of the scrolls,
But the amazing history that even now is discovered and unrolls,
That things are found millennia old and can still be revealed,
How secrets from the past are given up and no longer concealed.
How science is finding us new evidence and sights,
How satellite imaging is revealing new clues and giving new insights,
The use of space archaeology and light spectrums to reveal more,
Showing us old sites in new ways and secrets never seen before.
This world has much still to tell us of it's varied and distant past,
Anyone of us may discover something special and be a part at last,
We have more digital information and resources at our disposal,
To investigate any part of a new idea or archaeological proposal.
Treasure caches and objects from the past are found daily,
It may not be about the value just the ability of a new way to see,
A fresh take on an old theme or place and perhaps an event,
So open your eyes and mind and experience all that's sent.
Thank you