# Where were the scrolls made, and by whom were they collected? · Dead Sea Scrolls: dating, scribes and provenance > Four answers have been proposed. A sectarian community living at Qumran collected and partly copied the library. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484P366F4K/where-were-the-scrolls-made-and-by-whom-were-they-collected Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:14+00:00 --- **0** # Where were the scrolls made, and by whom were they collected? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: a sectarian community living at Qumran collected and partly copied the library** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. A sectarian community living at Qumran collected and partly copied the library. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The scrolls' meaning as evidence for Judaism of the period depends on whether they are one sect's library or a cross-section of Judaean books⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484DSJ4QVM/the-archaeology-of-qumran-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls-2nd)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484E1C24H3/who-wrote-the-dead-sea-scrolls-the-search-for-the-secret-of). ## Answers 4 [**A sectarian community living at Qumran collected and partly copied the library.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/answers/ANS0D484W6G601R/a-sectarian-community-living-at-qumran-collected-and-partly) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**The library is mixed; part was produced at Qumran and part brought in from elsewhere.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/answers/ANS0D484X5R714Y/the-library-is-mixed-part-was-produced-at-qumran-and-part) Supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/answers/ANS0D484XNC0SQ7/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The scrolls are the libraries of Jerusalem hidden during the revolt against Rome; Qumran was not their home.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/answers/ANS0D484WP43C53/the-scrolls-are-the-libraries-of-jerusalem-hidden-during-the) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 1995[Golb puts forward: the scrolls are the libraries of Jerusalem hidden during the revolt against Rome; Qumran was not their home.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484E1C24H3/who-wrote-the-dead-sea-scrolls-the-search-for-the-secret-of) 1. 2020[Anava et al. puts forward: the library is mixed; part was produced at Qumran and part brought in from elsewhere.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484BV21WC8/illuminating-genetic-mysteries-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls) 1. 2020[Anava et al.: dNA shows divergent Jeremiah versions on skins that point to origins outside Qumran and patterns that reflect…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484BV21WC8/illuminating-genetic-mysteries-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls)For: The scrolls are the libraries of Jerusalem hidden during the revolt against Rome; Qumran was not their home. 1. 2020[Anava et al.: genetic sorting supports some scrolls having been brought to the caves from elsewhere.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484BV21WC8/illuminating-genetic-mysteries-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls)For: The library is mixed; part was produced at Qumran and part brought in from elsewhere. 1. 2021[Magness puts forward: a sectarian community living at Qumran collected and partly copied the library.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484DSJ4QVM/the-archaeology-of-qumran-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls-2nd) 1. 2021[Magness: the standard archaeological account interprets the site as a sectarian settlement linked to the caves.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D484DSJ4QVM/the-archaeology-of-qumran-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls-2nd)For: A sectarian community living at Qumran collected and partly copied the library. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484P366F4K/where-were-the-scrolls-made-and-by-whom-were-they-collected%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484P366F4K/where-were-the-scrolls-made-and-by-whom-were-they-collected%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484P366F4K/where-were-the-scrolls-made-and-by-whom-were-they-collected%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484P366F4K/where-were-the-scrolls-made-and-by-whom-were-they-collected%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484P366F4K/where-were-the-scrolls-made-and-by-whom-were-they-collected%23add-source) Where it fits Dead Sea Scrolls: dating, scribes and provenance **Where were the scrolls made, and by whom were they collected?** Key question · you're here [Are the fragments that surfaced on the antiquities market after 2002 genuine?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dead-sea-scrolls-dating/questions/QST0D484PB02ASS/are-the-fragments-that-surfaced-on-the-antiquities-market)Most likely · most or all post-2002 market fragments are modern forgeries, often on ancient leather [ Ask a question under this one ]