Qumran National Park

About

Qumran was founded under the reign of John Hyrcanus towards the end of the 2nd century BC, and destroyed a few short centuries later. Details about the site’s nature are still debated, with explanations ranging from it being home to a Hebrew sect or a production center for pottery. Within the ruins, you’ll find the remains of houses, a groundwater aqueduct, a ritual bath, and potter’s kiln, with plenty of informative signage. However, the site’s most significant find was a series of caves containing nearly 1000 manuscripts from around 400 BC to 300 AD, including the second-oldest known works that would be included in the Hebrew Bible canon. Along with being able to see the caves in which these significant texts were discovered, Qumran’s informative visitor center goes into more details about the settlement, and the manuscripts.