The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of ancient texts discovered in 1947, may be even older than previously believed, according to a new study. Using a combination of AI analysis of handwriting and modern radiocarbon dating techniques, researchers have found that some of the scrolls could be up to a century older than initially thought.
Mladen Popović, from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, suggests that certain scrolls, such as those containing the biblical books Daniel and Ecclesiastes, may have been copied during the lifetimes of the original authors. While he clarifies that the authors themselves likely did not write the scrolls, this new research challenges our understanding of literacy in ancient Judea.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, hidden in caves near the Dead Sea, include some of the oldest known copies of Old Testament books and other ancient Jewish texts. Previously, scholars believed that the scrolls were hidden to protect them from the Romans in AD 70. Based on the handwriting in the texts, dating methods placed the scrolls as early as 150 BC. However, radiocarbon dating in the 1990s suggested a wider age range, prompting skepticism among experts.
Popović and his team took a novel approach by combining radiocarbon dating with AI analysis of handwriting styles. By training an AI system to associate handwriting with specific dates, they were able to accurately date a selection of scrolls. The results showed that many scrolls were older than previously believed, with some dating back to around 200 BC.
Travis Williams from Tusculum University in Tennessee describes the findings as groundbreaking, suggesting that a reevaluation of literacy and writing practices in ancient Judea is necessary. The revelation that the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls were reproducing texts within a generation of the original authors challenges traditional views of ancient literature.
Brent Nongbri from MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society in Oslo commends the new radiocarbon dates and acknowledges that the chronology of the scrolls may require a reassessment. This new research not only sheds light on the age of the Dead Sea Scrolls but also prompts a reexamination of the history and context in which they were produced.
Overall, this study offers a fresh perspective on the origins and significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls, highlighting the importance of combining modern technology with traditional methods to unlock the secrets of ancient texts.
