Storage Conditions and Physical Treatments Relating to the Dating of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Abstract

The Dead Sea Scrolls have been analyzed by paleographic, non-destructive and destructive testing. The dates of their creation have been in dispute since their discovery. Research has established their authenticity, but a variety of conditions including the methods of skin preparation, variation in storage conditions and post-discovery restoration treatments could have introduced changes now affecting dating efforts. Comprehensive analyses were not possible until recently. Such analysis must be performed to establish a concrete framework for all the texts.Professor R. B. Blake told a story in response to a question of why so little remained of writing on leather. He said that on one of his expeditions to Asia Minor, one of his native servants exhibited proudly some chamois trousers of his own manufacture, upon which Professor Blake detected with sorrow, traces of medieval writing (Reed 1972).

The Effects of Possible Contamination on the Radiocarbon Dating of the Dead Sea Scrolls I: Castor Oil

“…It has long been clear from the early literature on the initial work conducted on the Dead Sea Scrolls (hereafter DSS) that the first efforts to clean and get readings from the scroll fragments entailed exposing them to potentially contaminating substances that could have caused consequences in later radiocarbon analysis (Bonani et al 1992;Jull et al 1995;Doudna 1998 and references therein). As discussed elsewhere (Doudna 1999) the fragments have also been exposed in the course of efforts at conservation to a variety of further treatments (Caldarero 1995;Boyd-Alkalay and Libman 1998). Much of this contamination was either unavoidable under the circumstances or simply the least bad alternative in the process of providing for the survival of the texts for study by later generations.…”

Use of Radiocarbon Dating in Assessing Christian Connections to the Dead Sea Scrolls

“…The relevance of this change is considered in more detail below. (Caldararo 1995). Both groups who have made measurements addressed these problems carefully.…”

“…Calibrated age range Features of the Dead Sea Scrolls Dating Studies Considerable care is required in the preparation of Scroll samples for radiocarbon analysis because of various historical storage conditions and chemical treatments of these documents (Caldararo 1995). Both groups who have made measurements addressed these problems carefully.…”

Scientific Study Tour of Ancient Israel

“…One of the major problems associated with C-14 tests on any organic sample is in the handling and treatment of the artifact after it has been removed from its archaeological location (29). Some of the scrolls underwent treatment with organic oils, such as castor oil, in order to improve the visibility of the writings, or with rice paper and glue, which were used in the conservation/preservation stage.…”