An advanced artificial intelligence program named Enoch, after a biblical figure, suggests reconsidering one of archaeology’s key finds: the Dead Sea Scrolls. A worldwide research team collaborating with the AI proposes that some of those scrolls might be older than previously thought; their findings were published in the journal PLOS One on June 4, 2025.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a remarkable archaeological find. Discovered in the Qumran Caves in 1946, around 15,000 scrolls and fragments were collected over the next ten years, offering vital insights into ancient Jewish and early Christian societies. The scrolls include some of the earliest complete biblical texts, showcasing a remarkably uniform rabbinic culture for over a thousand years.
While some ancient texts feature written dates, many do not, making origin tracing difficult. Experts employ techniques such as carbon-14 dating and paleography to date these documents by examining ancient writing styles. However, accurately dating a manuscript requires a robust database of dated documents, which can be a complex task.
In a joint effort among scholars from various European countries, a machine learning program was developed to analyze scanned biblical texts. Enoch uses two primary datasets, including an index of radiocarbon-dated texts and a thorough analysis of handwriting. After evaluating 135 non-dated Dead Sea Scrolls, Enoch offered age estimates that were validated against paleographic expert evaluations, showing that nearly 80 percent of the scrolls had realistic dating, revealing some to be older than initially believed. More validation is required, but this tool may enhance the study of ancient texts-and the authors expressed their enthusiasm regarding its potential for future discoveries.
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