Which Dead Sea Scrolls Fragments have Actually been Radiocarbon Dated?
Thirty-two fragments from the Judean Desert have been radiocarbon dated in 1990 and in 1994. The publications of the results did not specify which particular fragments had been used for the dating tests. This ambiguity has resulted in misconceptions about allegedly tested fragments, such as concerning fragments of copies of the Aramaic Levi Document (4Q213/4Q213a) and copies of the Reworked Pentateuch (4Q364/4Q365). Also, several references in the articles discussing the 14C dating are not correct, whereas other scrolls have been renamed. An examination of the pre- and post-radiocarbon dating photographs shows in most cases which specific fragments have been dated. Five additional radiocarbon tests have been undertaken in the 2000s and will also be discussed.