Qumran studies in light of archeological excavations between 1967 and 1997

In the 18 years between 1947 (Qumran Cave 1) and 1965 (Masada), approximately 1,500 texts written on parchment or on papyrus were discovered in different sites (mostly in caves) in the Judean Desert. The most important of these are the nine hundred scrolls found in eleven caves at Qumran. The last cave found in Qumran that contained documents was "Qumran cave 11," found in 1956. Although no further scrolls were discovered at Qumran after 1956, significant archeological works have been conducted there and at related sites over the last 30 years. In this paper, a brief summary is offered of the archaeological excavations at Qumran and related sites between 1967 and 1997. The finds from those excavations shed light on the nature of the site of Kh. Qumran, and on some aspects related to the study of some scrolls.