1Qp

1Qp is a manuscript designation used in the scholarly cataloging of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The label indicates a fragment from the Qumran collection, with the first numeral pointing to Cave 1 where the fragment was found and the letter p serving as part of the editors’ siglum for this particular piece. The exact nature of the text behind 1Qp is not securely identified, because only limited fragments have survived.

The surviving material of 1Qp is fragmentary, and as a result its precise contents remain uncertain. Paleographic and linguistic analysis place the scroll within the broader context of the late Second Temple period, but the dating and textual classification are not definitive. Because of the fragmentary state, it is not always possible to determine whether 1Qp represents a biblical, para-biblical, or sectarian composition, or how it relates to other texts in the Qumran corpus.

Scholarly interest in 1Qp centers on its contribution to the understanding of scribal practices, script, and the textual environment of the Qumran community. Although 1Qp has a limited textual footprint, it is part of the larger assemblage of fragments from Cave 1 that inform discussions about textual diversity, manuscript preservation, and the methods used to curate and study the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Overall, 1Qp exemplifies the challenges of working with highly fragmentary ancient manuscripts. It underscores the importance of ongoing reanalysis and comparative study within the Dead Sea Scrolls program.