AI Reveals Dead Sea Scrolls Are Much Older

A study published in PLOS ONE used the AI program Enoch, developed by the University of Groningen and collaborators, to precisely date over 100 Dead Sea Scroll fragments by combining AI handwriting analysis with radiocarbon dating. The new method found that many scrolls, including biblical fragments 4QDaniel and 4QQohelet, are 50 to 150 years older than previously thought, and in some cases, originate from the time of their presumed authors. This marks the first time biblical scrolls have been so closely linked to their supposed period of composition. The AI-driven approach reduces dating uncertainty to about ±30 years, a significant improvement over older subjective and less precise methods. Scholars say these results could reshape our understanding of the origins of key religious texts and the historical development of early Judaism and Christianity. The research demonstrates the value of AI in providing more objective and accurate timelines for ancient manuscripts.