ANCIENT SUN DIALUSED BY THE ESSENES PEOPLE DISPLAYED FOR FIRST TIME IN JERUSALEM MUSEUM, 1997-04-13...

A limestone sun dial used to tell the time by the ancient Essene people 2,000 years ago is displayed April 13 at the Israel Museum for the first time since its discovery in the 1950's in the Qumran caves at the northern part of the Dead Sea. The Essenes were devout Jews numbering around 200 who broke away from Jerusalem and moved to the Dead Sea area and left behind one of the world's greatest archaeological discoveries, the Dead Sea scrolls. Scholars are still unlocking their mysteries since their discovery 50 years ago by a shepherd, now with the help of DNA testing. The sun dial is remarkable because it shows the Essenes kept time differently from their Jewish brethren in Jerusalem. The Essene settlement in Qumran was destroyed by the Romans in 68 AD. The sun dial will go on display for the first time in July. ISRAEL SCROLLS