Researchers using AI and improved radiocarbon dating techniques suggest many Dead Sea Scrolls may be older than previously thought, with some biblical texts possibly dating from the time of their original authors.

By removing contamination from earlier tests and analyzing handwriting styles, the team found that different scripts coexisted longer than believed, and certain texts, like parts of Daniel and Ecclesiastes, align more closely with their traditional dates of authorship.

They developed an AI model called Enoch that accurately estimates scroll ages from ink images, offering a non-destructive way to date over 1,000 manuscripts, The Guardian has reported.

Experts say these findings challenge long-held ideas about where and when the scrolls were written, though some caution that results should be combined with other evidence for full understanding.

Written by B.C. Begley