How Scholars Identify Fake Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most important archaeological discoveries ever made, but not every fragment has turned out to be real. This week, Dr. Kipp Davis joins the podcast to explore how scholars identify which Dead Sea Scrolls are fakes, why forgers have been so successful in creating fakes, and why we are so susceptible to forgeries.

This is part two of our conversation about how Dead Sea Scroll forgeries began, how experts detect them, and what these mistakes teach us about archaeology, manuscripts, and the modern antiquities market.

📺 Check out Kipp's ⁠YouTube Channel⁠

👉 Dr. Davis helps us explore:

– What traits help to identify fake scroll fragments

– How forgers play on scholars expectations

– Why radio-carbon dating isn't a magic solution

📚 Reading Recommendations:

⁠God's Propaganda: Pulling Back the Curtain on What the Bible Wants You to See ⁠

⁠Gleanings from the Cave of Wonders? Fragments, Forgeries, and “Biblicism” in the Dead Sea Scrolls⁠

⁠Dating ancient manuscripts using radiocarbon and AI-based writing style analysis⁠

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🎙️ Credits

Guest: Dr. Kipp Davis

Hosted and edited by Dr. Jordan Jones

Additional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty

The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone