Edited sentence: Many archaeologists and some rabbis consider this proof that it was murex trunculus (and closely related species) that was the source of the tekhelet dye.Only in the 20th century has archaeological research, combined with readings of rabbinic literature, allowed some scientists to conclude that the murex trunculus snail was the source of this dye.This work has gained additional validation since archaeological work has uncovered primitive dye factories from 2,000 years ago which are located by vast pits of waste murex trunculus (and closely related) shells