What is probably the richest collection of bronze and ivory articles from the Chalcolithic period dating back to 5,000 years ago, has been discovered in the Dead Sea caves by the Hebrew University expedition headed by Professor Yigael Yadin, it was announced here today.
When the first items in the find were discovered last week, it was believed that they were part of a booty captured from Roman legions by the forces of Bar Kochba because numerous articles bore the engraving of an eagle, a typical Roman symbol. As more items were unearthed, however, it was established that they predated the Brcnze Age and indicated that the Chalcolithic period had a much higher level of culture than was formerly believed.
Meanwhile, parts of 41 scrolls and papyri dating to the later Bar Kochba period, have already been brought to Jerusalem where they are being opened by university experts. They were among the items discovered by the expedition last week in the vicinity of the Dead Sea. Prof. Yadin reported that Prof. Biberkraut, a Hebrew University expert on opening ancient scrolls, had managed to open one of the scrolls which is written clearly in Hebrew letters.
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