A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) model is reshaping scholarly understanding of the Dead Sea Scrolls, revealing that some manuscripts may be up to a century older than previously believed.

The AI model – named Enoch – was developed by researchers at the University of Groningen, and combines modern radiocarbon dating with handwriting analysis to estimate the age of the ancient documents with remarkable precision. It was trained on dozens of dated manuscripts, enabling researchers to assess 135 scrolls and uncover earlier-than-expected origins for key script styles.

Most strikingly, two biblical texts – fragments from the books of Daniel and Ecclesiastes – were found to have been copied during the lifetimes of their presumed authors, an unprecedented discovery in ancient literature.

These results suggest that literary activity and Hebrew script traditions began earlier than previously assumed, possibly preceding Judea’s political independence. The overlap of past distinct writing styles further challenges accepted historical timelines.

Experts say this technological breakthrough could lead to major revisions in our understanding of Jewish history, literacy, and religious development during the Hellenistic and early Roman periods.

The study not only deepens our connection to the ancient past but also marks a new era in manuscript research.

Image Credit: Source