In the more than 800 documents that make up the Dead Sea Scrolls, there are ancient copies of biblical texts, historical commentaries, hymns, recipes, and more.
They provide some of the most detailed knowledge we have about the Second Temple period of history, from about 530 BC to 70 AD, revealing much of the history of Judaism and early Christianity.
And since 1956, we've thought that these documents all came from 11 caves in Wadi Qumran, near the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in the Desert of Judea.
But in February of 2016, it was announced that a new Dead Sea Scrolls cave had been discovered.
Here are photos from the archaeologists involved that show the expedition:
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Researchers have begun to scour the area for new caves since fragments of valuable scrolls are thought to have appeared on the antiquity black market.
This was just one of many potential caves, but the researchers involved say they're certain it held Dead Sea Scrolls, meaning there are at least 12 such caves overall — and there may be more.
Inside, archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Virginia's Liberty University found a tunnel and iron pickax heads, indicating that the cave had been looted in the 1950s.
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