Israeli Experts and scientists confirm, The Copper Scroll Project Research has serious potential.
A massive thanks you to the scholars that have endorsed the possibilities of The Copper Scroll Project research. I believe it was John Allegro that said when you enter the arena of the Dead Sea Scrolls you are entering a “cloak and dagger” world. You have each stepped outside of the scholastic comfort zone and helped an unlikely researcher validate his hypothesis. Your help is greatly appreciated. To the families of Shuka and Yuval, they were fantastic men.
We have recently been asked for additional confirmation that my research and my selection of the Qumran site as a potential location for the vast treasures listed on the Copper Scroll. This article should help considerably. Can we prove it? Let us dig.
The 263-page CSP document has three sections. Section I contains a composite back-story and synopsis of events compiled from Biblical accounts and other supporting documents. Section II provides details and documentation for a more academic point of view of the CS history. Although Section I and II are interesting and at some point may prove important, they are not required for the evaluation and determination of the descriptions from the Copper Scroll, proving that Qumran has great potential for housing the artifacts listed thereon.
Section III is the disclosure and stands on its own merit, historic timeframe has no bearing on the locations of the artifacts. The structures at Qumran so accurately match the descriptions listed on the Copper Scroll, as explained in the research, that rabbis, archaeologists and authorities in Israel who “have seen” the research were moved to action. Although there may be some that feel their extensive knowledge of Hebrew exceeds that of the dignitaries below, it may be wise for them…to be patient.
With that in mind, understand that the research is restricted and only limited amounts of the research has been publically released. The limitations are for the safety of any artifacts or valuables that remain at Qumran. Only in private are the larger amounts of confirming details released; as in the following instances where scholars reviewed the research and, by action and word, agreed that The Copper Scroll Project research has great possibilities.
December 2007
A meeting and review of the CSP research with the Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem began the official portion of the project. Within minutes after Shuka Dorfman reviewed the first four locations listed in the CSP document, he stopped the disclosure and contacted his secretary to arrange a meeting four days later with the Director of the Antiquities Department of the Civil Administration, Yitzak Magen, and his associate Yuval Peleg, the lead researcher for excavations at Qumran. Mr. Dorfman’s enthusiasm and insight launched the following events.
December 2007
Mr. Magen and Yuval Peleg arrived at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem mid-afternoon and the CSP research was presented. Mr. Peleg exclaimed in Hebrew to Mr. Dorfman, “I think he has done it.” Meaning, Mr. Peleg believed that the CSP assessment of the ancient CS was accurate. The meeting ended with words of encouragement and an exchange of contact information.
April 2008
During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Yuval Peleg was contacted and invited to be the lead archaeologist for an excavation based on the CSP research. Mr. Peleg enthusiastically accepted and asked me to meet with him at the snack room in the Rockefeller Museum to work out some logistic details. At that meeting Mr. Peleg explained that the research was compelling enough that he would schedule an excavation in December.
December 2008
A CSP advance party was in Israel in December to coordinate the excavation, but due to signs of a war in the Gaza Strip and Mr. Peleg’s military status as a reserve combat commander, that excavation was delayed but not before a meeting and pre-excavation examination at Qumran where the above picture was taken. As we were looking into a tunnel to be excavated, we found a very expensive crystal. The CS indicates that the tunnel would contain several talents of gems. The crystal being there was purely a coincidence, but we all found it funny since it did get our hearts pounding. And, Yuval kept the crystal.
The three-week armed conflict with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began on 27 December 2008 and ended on 18 January 2009 in a unilateral ceasefire but bound Yuval to his military duties even longer.
April 2009
The preliminary excavation was exciting but its greatest value was to prove to the world that the leading scholar and overseeing authority of Qumran, Yuval Peleg, and the highest authorities believed in the CSP research enough to arrange for, equip, finance and provide IAA staff workers to excavate purely based on the CSP research. Why did we stop, at less than a meter depth and dig at only three of the agreed five locations? Keep reading the answer is below. Finishing that excavation and going to the depths required by the CS is what motivates us to keep pressing forward.
July 2009
After the interview for the Travel Channel, I was invited to meet with Hanan Eshel, a leading expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls. He too reviewed my work and was intrigued. After a very pleasant meeting in his home, he graciously asked to be allowed to participate once a follow-up excavation was scheduled. It was an honor for him to ask and I, of course, agreed.
January 2013
During an extended stay in Israel in the month of January 2013, Chris Knight and I met with several archaeologists and rabbis. One archaeologist, Shimon Gibson, met us at a coffee shop in Jerusalem and even offered to put us on his permit and allow us to operate under his authority. That was a fantastic offer but we would have had to do some legal shuffling to protect and keep our work separate and intact. Shimon was a true gentleman and greatly appreciated. Fortunately, on the last day of our stay and on the way to the airport in Tel Aviv the Director General for the Israel National Park site, Masada, arranged a meeting with the National Parks Director, the Director of Qumran, several of the National Parks staff, and Tzvika Tzuk, the Head of Archaeology for the National Parks Authority. Although Mr. Tzuk only had 30 minutes, like all the others, when we got to location four he decided to stay for an hour and a half.
We all discussed how an excavation could be arranged and they provided great ideas and suggestions. Because of his position and concerns of a possible conflict of interest, Tzvika promised to contact a colleague of his who he thought would be very interested, Dr. Oren Gutfeld of Hebrew University. He was.
April 2013
A portion of The Copper Scroll Project research is on a secure and password protected website, the good Doctor was given access and a very nice email followed. In the email containing his credentials and experience excavating at Qumran he closed with the following quote, “From my point of view, this project looks incredible, and I would be honored to take part.” (Copied directly from the email).
In closing, I promised to tell you why the excavation was halted short of the expressed goals. It is my firm belief that it was stopped for the same reason Dr. Gutfeld, a seasoned well respected archaeologist with many years of work at Qumran, was denied a permit to do a simple but important test scan of the grounds with a high powered detector with computer imaging…He said, I have been working here for decades and I have never been denied a permit for a scan. When I asked why, he said, “ They are afraid you will find something…”
For more confirmation that the CSP Research has great potential, read the article about the Mortar and there are many more Hebrew experts that agree but are not listed on this document.
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