AI Reveals Dead Sea Scrolls Are Older Than Previously Believed!
New research led by Professor Mladen Popović from the University of Groningen is transforming our understanding of the Dead Sea Scrolls, thanks to the help of artificial intelligence. A recent study, published in PLOS One, has combined radiocarbon dating with cutting-edge AI handwriting analysis to reveal that many of these ancient texts are significantly older than previously thought, some by as much as 150 years.
Discovered in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea between 1946 and 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls are the oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, the scrolls include religious texts, legal writings, and calendars, dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 2nd century CE.
Photo Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority
Until now, scholars have relied largely on palaeography, the study of ancient handwriting, and radiocarbon dating to establish their age. However, early radiocarbon results were compromised because, in the 1950s, many of the scrolls were treated with castor oil to enhance legibility, unintentionally contaminating the samples.
In this new study, researchers carefully cleaned 30 manuscript samples to remove the old contamination. Of these, 27 yielded successful radiocarbon dates. Interestingly, while a few fragments turned out to be newer than expected, most were considerably older.
To take their analysis further, the team developed an AI system named Enoch, a nod to the biblical figure known in Jewish tradition for wisdom and scientific insight. This AI model was trained on 62 high-resolution digital images taken from 24 scrolls that had already been dated. It learned to distinguish subtle handwriting differences, allowing it to estimate the likely age of undated manuscripts.
To test its reliability, Enoch was put to work on 135 previously undated scrolls. In nearly 80% of cases, experts agreed that the AI’s dating estimates were realistic.
Photo Credit: Popović et al., 2025, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0
One standout example is the scroll labelled 4Q114, which includes passages from the Book of Daniel. Earlier handwriting studies placed it in the late 2nd century BCE. However, Enoch suggested it could be as early as 230 BCE, possibly dating back to the time of the text’s supposed author.
Another major discovery relates to the coexistence of two distinct handwriting styles, Hasmonean and Herodian, which now appear to have overlapped for much longer than scholars had believed. In another striking case, Enoch dated a version of Ecclesiastes to a timeframe that aligns closely with its traditionally accepted author, opening the door to new insights into the evolution of Jewish religious thought.
Professor Popović described the AI tool as a kind of “time machine” into the ancient world. “For the first time, we can directly connect some scrolls to the lifetimes of their authors,” he said.
Looking ahead, the team sees huge potential for Enoch beyond just the Dead Sea Scrolls. Because it doesn't require the destruction of samples for dating, it could be used to examine other ancient manuscripts from different cultures and periods with a similar degree of precision.