Figure 78

Photo by Todd Bolen. Used with permission BiblePlaces.com

Numerous mikva’ot (ritual purity baths) lined with plaster were discovered at Qumran scattered throughout the site indicating that the Essenes practiced baptism by immersion. Fresh water (living water) was supplied from local springs. This mikveh is split down the middle with a 30 cm. (12 in.) crack as a result of an earthquake in 31 BC which destroyed Qumran.

NOTE: High resolution image is unavailable due to copyright restrictions.