A teenager tending livestock near the Dead Sea threw a stone into a cave and heard something shatter; the accidental discovery eventually led researchers to the Dead Sea Scrolls, among the most important ancient manuscripts ever found

• (Image credit: deadseascrolls.org/Tsila Sagiv)Some incredible findings emerge from happy accidents.
• In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd searching for a stray animal near the Dead Sea threw a stone into a cave and heard the sound of pottery breaking.
• This led to the discovery of a collection of ancient manuscripts hidden for centuries, finally giving researchers a glimpse into the religious life and history preserved in the scrolls.