Archaeologists discovered the scrolls in the Judean Desert. They also found the world's oldest fully intact basket, a 6,000-year-old mummified child and a cache of rare coins.

The museum takes back around 5,000 manuscripts to Egypt and over 8,000 ancient clay objects to Iraq. Since its opening in 2017, it has been accused of several controversial acquisitions.

Biblical archaeology does not seek to prove or disprove the content of the Bible, but to describe the historical framework in which the biblical books were formed.

Expert German researchers said they showed “characteristics inconsistent with ancient origin”.