New Carbon-14 Tests on Dead Sea Scrolls

As a result of an initiative by a BAR reader, new carbon-14 tests will be performed on selected Dead Sea Scrolls in an effort to determine their dates with greater confidence.

In Queries & Comments, BAR 18:03, we printed a letter from Greg Dougna, of the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Cornell University, asking for additional carbon-14 tests and offering to pay for them. In our editorial reply following the letter, we asked Mr. Dougna to identify the texts he wanted tested and to send us a check—and we’d try to get it done.

Mr. Dougna replied that he would like to have tested the earliest-dated text (by paleography) of the Damascus Document. Since the Damascus Document reflects the establishment of the Qumran community, the community must have been established by the time of the earliest copy of the Damascus Document. Mr. Dougna would like this text carbon dated by three different laboratories and says he has set aside $1800 to pay for these tests.

We sent Mr. Dougna’s letter to Israel Antiquities Director Amir Drori. “Why not do it?” we asked.