November 2006
Out & About: Seattle Discovers the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the major archeological finds of the 20th century. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd discovered a cave containing some of the scrolls near Qumran, on the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel. Eleven caves were excavated over the next decade, revealing 50,000 fragments from more than 850 documents.
Dry conditions preserved the scrolls, which are older than previous finds of this kind by nearly a millennium. They provide illumination for a key period of history, with records of legal, political, and intellectual developments. The “Discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls” exhibit at the Pacific Science Center contains scroll fragments previously unseen by the public, as well as other artifacts, such as pottery shards, leather, linen and coins from several eras. Seattle-area families can dive into the history and science of this find through Jan. 7, 2007.
Two self-guided audio tours are available. The adult version is more factual and involves commentary from experts in the field, while the one for younger visitors is a bouncy, funny dialogue between two guides who take turns asking and answering questions, with the occasional dramatization.
The exhibit puts the scrolls into context from the moment your family steps inside. The audio tour begins while you are waiting in line, and the walls are covered in facts and statistics about modern Israel. Once you’re inside, a short film gives more information about the discovery of the scrolls and an introduction to what they mean to archeology and other scientific fields.
The displays begin with the discovery of the scrolls (and how four of them were once offered for sale in the Wall Street Journal before getting into scholarly hands!) An exploration of archeological techniques includes a great section of hands-on exhibits demonstrating everything from assembling pottery shards to the work and legacies of scribes. Following that, a number of exhibits compare artifacts, such as linen remains, with what scientists can infer from their discovery.
The next part of the exhibit could get a bit ponderous for younger and more rambunctious visitors. The scroll fragments are kept in a darkened room, held in glass cases that cycle through light and dark on a timer, in order to not damage them. Banners explain their meaning and relevance. There are fragments of books of the Bible and of laws and procedures. The atmosphere is more hushed and solemn than that at most museums, and children should be kept close by.
There’s a risk of information overload with the audio and written content. The kids getting the most out of the experience were 7 or 8 and older. They dived into the hands-on exhibits with their parents, putting pottery shards together and enthusiastically examining the explanation of carbon dating and the differences between parchment and papyrus. The younger ones jumped eagerly into this part as well, but afterwards often became restless. There is no reentry to the exhibit, which also has no restrooms, so stepping outside for a few minutes isn’t an option. The exhibit empties into a gift shop, which is primarily adult-oriented, but there are still plenty of plush camels and coloring books to be found.
Programs in the Planetarium and Imax Theater complement the main exhibit. Mysteries of Egypt, an Imax film, deals with archeological ideas that mirror the exhibit, showing scientists’ reconstruction of a culture based on what it left behind. At the Planetarium, The Dead Sea: Ancient Skies, Ancient Eyes examines the conflict between lunar and solar calendars, and the belief systems behind each, a topic further examined within the exhibit. A live demonstration, Mystery of the Lice Ant, plays daily; the schedule is posted at the Science Center each day.
Two parent-child workshops, one for ages 5-7 and one for ages 8-12, examine the activities and methods of archeologists in age-appropriate ways. The workshops run through December; find registration information on the Pacific Science Center Web site. The site also included educational materials intended for teachers, but useful to parents as well.
Tickets are purchased for specific entry times, at 15-minute intervals. Visitors should arrive 30 minutes before their ticket time. There is no time limit for being in the exhibit; 90 minutes is recommended. Food and drink, cameras and light-producing devices such as flashlights and laser pointers are not allowed, and all bags are searched upon entry. There are restrooms right by the entrance to the exhibit..
“Discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls”
Where: Pacific Science Center
Seattle Center, 200 2nd Ave. N.
When: Through Jan. 7, 2007
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday through Wednesday and
10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursday; ticket sales stop 90 minutes prior to closing.
Admission: $19.75 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $10
for children ages 3-12, includes regular exhibits and “Dead Sea
Scrolls.”
Information: 1-877-DSS-1947 (377-1947). www.pacsci.org
Breanne Boland is a Seattle freelance writer.
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