'Irish Dead Sea Scrolls' in bog

 
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Ally
'Taffia'


Joined: 29 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:51 pm    Post subject: 'Irish Dead Sea Scrolls' in bog Reply with quote

Fragments of an ancient manuscript found in an Irish bog are being hailed as comparable to the Dead Sea Scrolls.


The manuscript will eventually go on display in Dublin (National Museum of Ireland/PA)


Some of the Latin text is still legible even though the manuscript has spent at least 1,000 years in a bog (National Museum of Ireland/PA)

The discovery of the Psalter, or Book of Psalms, in the south Midlands is said to be one of the most significant discoveries in archaeology for decades.

National Museum of Ireland specialists believe the manuscript may have been lost in transit or dumped after a raid - possibly up to 1,200 years ago.

Museum director Dr Pat Wallace said it was "remarkably well preserved".

"Nobody has found anything like this for centuries - we are going to find it very hard to find people who know about it," he said.

The manuscript was found by a eagle-eyed digger-driver, who acted quickly to ensure its preservation.

Dr Wallace said it was not in pristine condition but some of the writing was still legible.

"When we saw it in the bog, we were able to read one of the psalms in Latin," he said.

He said it was "not so much the fragments themselves, but what they represent, that is of such staggering importance".


"In my wildest hopes, I could only have dreamed of a discovery as fragile and rare as this.


"It testifies to the incredible richness of the Early Christian civilisation of this island and to the greatness of ancient Ireland."

It is believed the extensive fragments are of an Irish Early Christian Psalter, written on vellum.

They were recovered from the bog by a bulldozer last week, and transported to the National Museum's conservation laboratory for painstaking analysis.

Trinity College Dublin head of manuscripts Dr Bernard Meehan said it was the first discovery of an Irish Early Medieval manuscript in two centuries.

"Initial impressions place the composition date of the manuscript at about 800AD - but how soon after this date it was lost we may never know," he said.

Once the manuscript has been conserved, it will be displayed in the Early Christian gallery of the museum, alongside the Ardagh chalice and the Derrynaflan paten.

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Amazing! agree
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IRiSHMaFIA
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Joined: 29 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is wicked!!! I can't wait to see more on this. What a brilliant find wow that's just unreal Very Happy Thanks for sharing that Ally clap
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Ally
'Taffia'


Joined: 29 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think they ought to bottle what's in that bog for a facial mask. Laughing

Seriously the fact those scrolls were preserved all this time is incredible to me and that they were found in that condition is a miracle don't you think?
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IRiSHMaFIA
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Joined: 29 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ally wrote:
I think they ought to bottle what's in that bog for a facial mask. Laughing

Seriously the fact those scrolls were preserved all this time is incredible to me and that they were found in that condition is a miracle don't you think?


Hey you might have a point about the facial mask Very Happy Maybe I'll give it a shot and let you know the result lol

It truly is miraculous to find something so old and in such good condition. I hope they publish a lot more pictures of it in the coming months. I'm dying to see it more.
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Gasman59
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Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: Pennsylvania USA

PostPosted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fantastic story !!! I eagerly await this to be updated. Stuff like this facinates me !!! Thanks for sharing that Ally !!
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