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Re: Fwd: Qumran Texts Found!! (fwd)
Amidst all the calls for carbon-14 dating, I note that the postings so
far specify ostraca, potsherds, and am wondering if it is possible to do
carbon-14 dating on such items.
David Suter
Saint Martin's College
On Tue, 13 Feb 1996, Richard L. Goerwitz III wrote:
> > I think everyone should hold their horses until appropriate testing and
> > scanning has been done.
>
> Just how narrowly can texts be dated via carbon isotope analysis, using
> the very latest methods? I'm not an archeologist, and don't deal with
> artifacts per se. I'd like a frank, current assessment of the technol-
> ogy, if someone would be willing to offer it.
>
> BTW:
>
> If you get that rapid a date on a Qumran text found in a specific archeo-
> logical context, the dating is probably based partly on that - i.e., its
> archeological context.
>
> You may also find that it is being dated, based on the typology of its
> script forms.
>
> And yes, it may also have something to do with who a given analyst thinks
> wrote the text, and why.
>
> --
>
> -Richard L. Goerwitz *** *** r-goerwitz@uchicago.edu
>