Catch a glimpse of history this summer at the ROM.
From June 2009 to January 2010, the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit will be running at the Royal Ontario Museum. It’s a chance to see fragments of the texts that are the earliest record, known to humans, of biblical documents such as hymns, prayers and religious laws. Most importantly, these documents trace the 2,000 -year-old traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
This exhibit brings those faiths together in an interesting exhibit that allows the public to view these precious documents with their own eyes. On loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority, (click here read about the ongoing dispute over who actually owns the Scrolls), the first of these texts was discovered in a desert cave near Khirbet Qumran in 1947 by a Bedouin goat-herder. Over the next few years more than 100,000 fragments of text would be found in 11 different caves. The discovery is traced though images and video at the exhibit and it is definitely a fascinating story to hear.
The mainly parchment scrolls are very sensitive to humidity and light. I was surprised to learn that the Israel Antiquities Authority has four conservators on staff whose only duty is to slow down the deterioration of the fragments. Tools used in the conservation are also on display.
The actual exhibit doesn’t have a lot of interactive opportunities for kids but the ROM has set up an area on a different floor just for the younger crowd. In this area, children will learn about the Scrolls through games and hands-on activities such as artifact excavation. I was unable to check it out as it was still closed during the media preview.
To view a video of the exhibit, click here
Check out the Trips with Kids website for more ideas.
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