Is the traditional palaeographic chronology of the scrolls broadly right, or are many manuscripts substantially older?
Most likely: many manuscripts are older than the palaeographic chronology says, often by decades and sometimes by a…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
Where it stands
Four answers have been proposed. Many manuscripts are older than the palaeographic chronology says, often by decades and sometimes by a… leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.
Why it matters
Most scrolls are dated only by handwriting. If they are a century older than thought, the dates of composition for books such as Daniel and Ecclesiastes, and the history of the sect, move with them[1].
Answers 4
History
- Bonani et al. puts forward: the palaeographic chronology is broadly right; differences from the 2025 dates fall within the combined…
- Jull et al.: the 1990s radiocarbon series broadly agreed with the palaeographic sequence.For: The palaeographic chronology is broadly right; differences from the 2025 dates fall within the combined…
- Rasmussen et al.: castor oil left by 1950s conservation can make earlier radiocarbon dates too young.For: Many manuscripts are older than the palaeographic chronology says, often by decades and sometimes by a…
- Braunheim et al. puts forward: key sectarian manuscripts are later than the consensus, into the first century AD.
- van der Plicht: a re-examination of the calibrations found they do not support the later chronology.Against: Key sectarian manuscripts are later than the consensus, into the first century AD.
- Popović et al. puts forward: many manuscripts are older than the palaeographic chronology says, often by decades and sometimes by a…
- Popović et al.: the 2025 radiocarbon ranges and Enoch predictions are often older than traditional palaeographic estimates.For: Many manuscripts are older than the palaeographic chronology says, often by decades and sometimes by a…
- Silva: enoch was trained on only 24 dated manuscripts, which a reviewer argued is too few to overturn palaeography.For: The palaeographic chronology is broadly right; differences from the 2025 dates fall within the combined…
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