Ancient biblical artifacts go online
2012-12-19 14:36
Jerusalem - More than six decades since the discovery of the
Dead Sea Scrolls — and thousands of years after they were written — Israel on
Tuesday put 5 000 images of the ancient biblical artifacts online in a
partnership with Google.
The digital library contains the Book of Deuteronomy, which
includes the second listing of the Ten Commandments, and a portion of the first
chapter of the Book of Genesis, dated to the first century BC.
Israeli officials said this is part of an attempt by the
custodians of the celebrated manuscripts — often criticised for allowing them
to be monopolised by small circles of scholars — to make them broadly
available.
"Only five conservators worldwide are authorized to
handle the Dead Sea Scrolls," said Shuka Dorfman, director of the Israel
Antiquities Authority. "Now, everyone can touch the scroll on screen
around the globe."
Last year, Google partnered with the Israel Museum to put
five scrolls online.
The scrolls, considered one of the most significant archaeological
finds of the 20th century, are thought to have been written or collected by an
ascetic Jewish sect that fled Jerusalem to the desert 2 000 years ago and
settled at Qumran, near the shore of the Dead Sea.
The hundreds of manuscripts found in caves near the site
have shed light on the development of the Hebrew Bible and the origins of
Christianity.
Google says the new digital library took two years to
assemble, using technology first developed by Nasa. The multimedia website
allows users to zoom in on various fragments, with translations and Google maps
alongside.
Google hopes to further expand its project. Two months ago
Google launched a "Cultural Institute", a digital visual archive of
historical events in cooperation with 17 museums and institutes around the
world.
"We're working to bring important cultural and
historical materials online and help preserve them for future
generations," said Yossi Matias, head of Google's Research and Development
Centre in Israel.
"Our partnership
with the Israel Antiquities Authority is another step toward enabling users to
enjoy cultural material around the world."
- AP
