A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, suggest that some scrolls were written just years after the original composition of the texts, marking the first time researchers have linked biblical writings so directly to surviving manuscripts.
Developed by researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the AI tool—named Enoch—combines radiocarbon data with handwriting analysis to refine the dating of the scrolls. The system was trained on 24 carbon-dated samples and then applied to 135 undated fragments.
“With the Enoch tool, we have opened a new door into the ancient world—like a time machine—that allows us to study the hands that wrote the Bible,” said Mladen Popović, director of the Qumran Institute and lead researcher on the project.
The AI’s results consistently suggested older dates than those previously assigned by human paleographers. Fragments of the Book of Daniel and Ecclesiastes, once believed to date to around 50 BCE, were reassigned to the 160s BCE—aligning closely with estimated periods of original composition.
Implications for Biblical and Historical Studies
This breakthrough addresses a longstanding gap in biblical scholarship: the lack of securely dated manuscripts from between the 4th century BCE and 1st century CE. Previous estimates relied largely on paleographic analysis—comparing handwriting styles—without a consistent empirical foundation.
“For most Dead Sea Scrolls, a calendar date is not known,” the study notes. “There are no other date-bearing manuscripts from the period available for paleographic comparison.”
If accurate, the AI-generated dates could place some scrolls within entirely different historical contexts. Texts thought to reflect the religious thought of the Hasmonean or early Roman periods may now be understood as products of earlier Jewish communities under Hellenistic rule, forcing a reevaluation of how and when key religious ideas and institutions emerged.
Skepticism and Debate
Not all scholars are convinced. Some caution that the AI model, while promising, may still carry biases from the limited training data or overfit to known patterns. Yet even skeptics acknowledge the approach could strengthen future manuscript dating if combined with traditional methods.
The study is part of a decade-long project titled The Hands That Wrote the Bible, funded by the European Research Council, and marks a significant step forward in merging computational analysis with ancient scholarship.
“Scholars in the field will now have to rethink historical reconstructions,” Popović told IFLScience, noting the potential to redraw aspects of early Jewish and Mediterranean history.
As researchers continue to refine AI-assisted dating techniques, the findings may lead to further revelations about the origins and transmission of some of the world’s most influential religious texts.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
The Caspian coast transformed into a hub for gaming, tech, and pop culture this weekend as GameSummit 2025 kicked off in Baku, bringing together developers, esports players, cosplayers, and tech enthusiasts for the region’s largest gaming and innovation festival.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
A sweeping travel ban ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump will go into effect early Monday, barring entry to citizens from 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on travelers from seven others. The move, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET, has drawn strong reactions both at home and abroad.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated Sunday that it is still awaiting official confirmation from Ukraine regarding a planned exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, which was scheduled to begin Saturday.
Russia announced that its self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles is coming to an end, accusing the United States and its allies of failing to reciprocate Moscow’s restraint.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment