Ancient Excrement Sheds Light on Qumran Debate

Qumran, on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, has been the scene of many exciting historical/archeological discoveries - the most well known is probably the Dead Sea Scrolls. A majority of scholars believe Qumran was home to a Jewish sect known as the Essenes, but a second theory has emerged which argues that Qumran was inhabited by farmers, potters, or perhaps even soldiers. However, researchers in the area have recently found something else that may help clear up who actually lived in Qumran - human excrement. Academics have discovered an ancient latrine of sorts, the contents of which they claim support the traditional view. While the researchers assert that the location of the toilet conforms to what they know of Essene cleanliness strictures, opponents of the theory say the aged refuse and its receptacle don't prove anything.