JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – An opportunity out of graduate school has led Dr. Stephen Reed all around the world to share his research on the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Jewish, religious manuscripts were created more than 2000 years ago, featuring hand-written text in Hebrew and Aramaic, the language spoken by many in the sixth century BC.

Dr. Reed says he spent several years researching and cataloging the manuscripts in Claremont, California.

Dr. Reed has spent the last 23 years teaching at the University of Jamestown, but has continued to study and work with colleagues around the world.

He has also authored a few articles, focusing on the authenticity of scrolls and fakes claiming to be official.

Dr. Reed says more recently, fragments have been showing up on the market and being purchased by wealthy collectors, institutions, and museums around the world. He says interest in his article on the authenticity of artifacts was brought forth in Norway.

Dr. Reed was invited out by Ӓrstein Justnes, professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Agder in Norway, to come to the country and talk about his work. While his trip was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Reed says it was enjoyable getting to share his research and lecture on the topic.

Dr. Reed says while in Norway, the announcement of the Dead Sea Scroll fragments that had been bought by Steve Green and placed in the new Bible Museum in Washington, D.C found that all 16 fragments were modern fakes.

“Many hoped they were genuine and many scholars thought they were as well,” Reed explained. “But one needs to be very cautious about claims from antiquities dealers.”

You can read a summary of Dr. Stephen Reed’s trip to Norway here.

Listen to a full Let’s Talk About It with Dr. Stephen Reed below: