(Photo: Paleo-Leviticus 11Q1 scroll segments from the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition. San Diego Natural History Museum .)
The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit opens tomorrow at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Officials expect nearly half a million visitors during the six-month exhibition. The exhibit contains 27 scrolls, 10 of which are exhibited for the first time. KPBS reporter Nicole Lozare has more.
The 2,000-year old Dead Sea Scroll fragments are so fragile they look like tissue paper. Most pieces can even fit in the palm of your hand. They are housed in a dark, climate-controlled area in the museum's basement. Security is so tight, officials refuse to give details.
The scrolls, after all, are the oldest known Biblical writings.
Representatives from the Israel Antiquities Authority -- the keepers of the scrolls --- are on hand to make sure the fragile scrolls are handled carefully.
The Antiquities' Chief Conservator Pnina Shor calls the scrolls the find of the 20th century.
Shor: Israel feels that this is common heritage, world heritage, therefore we owe it to the world to share with them.
The exhibit coincides with a November conference in San Diego of the world's leading religious scholars.
Nicole Lozare, KPBS News.
