The book by the American scientist Leo Doyel, the author of many popular science publications on archeology, tells in a fascinating, lively form about the searches and discoveries of ancient texts. This abridged edition of this book introduces the reader to the most striking discoveries that gave the world biblical manuscripts. CONTENTS: Preface by the author 5 Papyrus of Egypt 11 What the sarcophagi told us 30 Trade in papyri 50 Pearls in heaps of garbage 64 Again in Oxyrhynchus 85 Book without covers 99 Ancient books world 112Bible of the Canaanites 148Tischendorf in search of the authentic New Testament 190 Codex Sinaiticus 224 Two learned ladies in the Levant 247 The elusive “Diatessaron” 262 New data on the New Testament 282 Cairo Geniza 301 Caves in the Judean Desert 340 The Riddle of Shapira 366 Epilogue 394