Nature Screen presents "Dead Sea Scroll Detectives"

One of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time, the Dead Sea Scrolls, was made by a Bedouin shepherd boy in 1947. And since the 2,000-year-old scrolls were first taken from a cave, they’ve intrigued scholars, religious leaders, and profiteers alike. These fragile parchment relics include the oldest known versions of the Hebrew Bible and hold vital clues about the birth of Christianity. But who compiled them? And do more scrolls await discovery?

While some of these treasured scrolls have survived intact, others have been ravaged by time, burnt, decayed, or torn to pieces, and remain an enigma. Now, scientists are using new technologies to read the unreadable, solve mysteries that have endured for millennia, and even discover million-dollar fakes.