historical perspectives: from the hasmoneans to bar kokhba in light ...

176 AZRIEL GORSKI
and repetitive. One tends to teach the method and manner one
learned. Thus, the tradition and manner of stitching tends to be
transmitted from one person and generation to the next. That is not
to say that there are not differences but the differences are more in
a range of expression for an individual sewer than in style and manner.
From the characteristics outlined above, I will attempt to derive
information about the manner of stitching and the person or persons
doing the stitching. The findings are presented in Table 1.
Name
Scroll
Habakkuk
Commentary
Isaiah
Manuscript A
Cave 1
Notes:
Seam
No.
1
1
2
3
4
5 Bottom
5 Top
5
Repair
Direction
Z
S and
Straight
Straight
—
Very
Slight S
"Straight"
Straight
Straight
Stitching
Count
Range
per inch
7 to 9
—
5 to 6
5*
5 to 7
5 to 6
Random
Average count of
2, 3, 4 and 5 = 5.4
* Based on holes
Table 1: Stitching and thread characterization
Count
Average
per inch
8
—
5.5
5*
5.5
5.5
No. of
Strands
2
1
2
2**
2
?**#
2
2 or 4
Folded
over?
Thread
Twist
Direction
of Strand
Z
—
Z
Z**
?***
Perhaps S
?**#
Z
S
** Based on thread
fragment
Strand
Comp.
Fibers
Fibers
Fibers
Fibers**
Fibers
?***
Fibers
Fibers
*** Thread hidden by seam
From the data in Table 1 we can see that the scrolls have been
stitched at least four separate and distinct times. The average count
in seam 1 of the Habakkuk Commentary is 8, while the count in seams
2, 3, 4, and the top and bottom of seam 5 in the Isaiah manuscript
is approximately 5.5. This represents two separate events. The thread
in seam 1 of the Isaiah manuscript is a single-strand thread, while