Qumran
In 1946, inside a cave just a short distance from the Dead Sea, a boy from the Bedouin tribe of Tamara discovered ceramic pots. These pots housed the first of the 700 ancient manuscripts now referred to as the Dead Sea Scrolls. The first scrolls were brought to Jerusalem by Professor Eleazar Sukenik, while a Christian priest smuggled the others to the United States until their return in 1954. Members of the Bedouin tribe discovered ten of the eleven sites on which these scrolls were found.
Qumran is next to the original Dead Sea Scrolls cave. Between 1952 and 1956, it was excavated, uncovering an ancient communal settlement believed to belong to descendants of Priests from the family of Zadok, the High Priest during the biblical reign of King David and King Solomon.
At Qumran National Park, visitors will enjoy seeing archaeological remains from the Second Temple period, the Bar Kochba rebellion and a tour of the Dead Sea Scrolls cave. The park offers an audio-visual presentation of its history and rappelling through the nearby canyon and desert views. The park is just minutes from the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi; it is easily accessible from Jerusalem. Qumran National Park is open year round. Hours of operation are 8am until 5pm from April through September and 8am until 4pm from October through March.