How old are the Dead Sea Scrolls? An AI model can help
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Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Mysterious message 'from Moses' found in ancient Egyptian mine could prove the Bible true
A controversial new interpretation of markings etched on the walls of an ancient Egyptian mine could prove the Book of Exodus to be true. Researcher Michael Bar-Ron claimed that a 3,800-year-old Proto-Sinaitic inscription, found at Serabit el-Khadim in Egypt 's Sinai Peninsula, may read 'zot m'Moshe,' Hebrew for, 'This is from Moses.' The inscription, etched into a rock face near the so-called Sinai 357 in Mine L, is part of a collection of over two dozen Proto-Sinaitic texts first discovered in the early 1900s. These writings, among the earliest known alphabetic scripts, were likely created by Semitic-speaking workers in the late 12th Dynasty, around 1800BC. Bar-Ron, who spent eight years analyzing high-resolution images and 3D scans, suggested the phrase could indicate authorship or dedication linked to a figure named Moses. According to the Bible, Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and is famously known for receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. But no evidence of his existence has ever been found. Other nearby inscriptions reference 'El', a deity associated with early Israelite worship, and show signs of the Egyptian goddess Hathor's name being defaced, hinting at cultural and religious tensions. Mainstream experts remain cautious, noting that while Proto-Sinaitic is the earliest known alphabet, its characters are notoriously difficult to decipher. Dr Thomas Schneider, Egyptologist and professor at the University of British Columbia, said the claims are completely unproven and misleading,' warning that 'arbitrary' identifications of letters can distort ancient history.' However, Bar-Ron's academic advisor, Dr Pieter van der Veen, confirmed the reading, stating: 'You're absolutely correct, I read this as well, it is not imagined!' Bar-Ron's study, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, re-examined 22 complex inscriptions from the ancient turquoise mines, dating to the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhat III. Some scholars have proposed that Amenemhat III, known for his extensive building projects, could have been the pharaoh mentioned in the Book of Exodus. The language used in the carvings appears to be an early form of Northwest Semitic, closely related to biblical Hebrew, with traces of Aramaic. Using high-resolution images and 3D casts studied at Harvard's Semitic Museum, Bar-Ron grouped the inscriptions into five overlapping categories, or 'clades,' including dedications to the goddess Baʿalat, invocations of the Hebrew God El and hybrid inscriptions that show signs of later defacement and modification. Some carvings honoring Baʿalat appeared to have been scratched over by El-worshippers, possibly reflecting a religious power struggle among the Semitic-speaking laborers. The inscriptions also contained references to slavery, overseers, and a dramatic rejection of the Baʿalat cult, which scholars suggest may have led to a violent purge and the workers' eventual departure from the site. A burned Ba'alat temple, built by Amenemhat III, and references to the 'Gate of the Accursed One, likely Pharaoh's gate, hint at resistance against Egyptian authority. Nearby, the Stele of Reniseneb and a seal of an Asiatic Egyptian high official indicate a significant Semitic presence, possibly linked to figures like the biblical Joseph, a high-ranking official in Pharaoh's court, as described in the Book of Genesis. Joseph, sold into slavery and later rising to power through his dream interpretations, facilitated his family's settlement in Egypt. 'We find worshipful inscriptions lauding the idol Ba'alat, with clearly an El or God-serving scribe coming in later and canceling out certain letters, in an effort to turn the message into a God-serving one,' Bar-Ron told Patterns of Evidence. 'This is ground zero for this conflict.' A second possible 'Moshe,' or Moses, reference in nearby carvings adds intrigue, though its exact context remains unclear. 'I took a very critical view towards finding the name 'Moses' or anything that could sound sensationalist,' Bar-Ron told Patterns of Evidence. 'In fact, the only way to do serious work is to try not to find elements that seem 'Biblical,' but to struggle to find alternative solutions that are at least as likely.'
Scottish Sun
29-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Mysterious 3,800-year-old markings ‘made by Moses' in ancient Egyptian mine ‘could prove Bible is true'
A MYSTERIOUS 3,800-year-old inscription etched on the walls of an ancient Egyptian turquoise mine has sparked claims it could prove the Bible's Book of Exodus true. Independent researcher Michael Bar-Ron believes markings discovered at Serabit el-Khadim in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula may spell out zot m'Moshe — Hebrew for 'This is from Moses.' 4 A 3,800-year-old inscription discovered in an ancient Egyptian turquoise mine may prove the Bible's Book of Exodus true, an expert claims Credit: johannes gutenberg university mainz 4 Marks discovered at Serabit el-Khadim in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula may spell out zot m'Moshe — Hebrew for 'This is from Moses' Credit: johannes gutenberg university mainz The Proto-Sinaitic carving, found near the famed Sinai 357 in Mine L, dates back to around 1800BC in Egypt's late 12th Dynasty. Bar-Ron spent eight years poring over high-resolution images and 3D scans before suggesting the phrase could link directly to the biblical figure who led the Israelites out of Egypt. 'We find worshipful inscriptions lauding the idol Ba'alat, with clearly an El or God-serving scribe coming in later and canceling out certain letters, in an effort to turn the message into a God-serving one,' Bar-Ron told Patterns of Evidence. 'This is ground zero for this conflict.' Bar-Ron's academic advisor, Dr Pieter van der Veen, backed his interpretation, saying: 'You're absolutely correct, I read this as well, it is not imagined!' The tantalizing find comes amid other nearby inscriptions referencing El, an early Israelite deity, alongside defaced mentions of the Egyptian goddess Hathor. Scholars suggest the erasures point to a fierce religious struggle among Semitic-speaking workers who labored in Pharaoh Amenemhat III's mines. The area also bears evidence of revolt: a burned Ba'alat temple, inscriptions about slavery and overseers, and mentions of the 'Gate of the Accursed One' — possibly Pharaoh's gate. Such details echo the Exodus narrative of defiance and departure. Mystery of ancient mummified crocs worshipped by Egyptian CULT finally solved Researchers also spotted a second possible reference to 'Moshe' (Moses) in the mine complex. But Bar-Ron insists he isn't chasing headlines. 'I took a very critical view towards finding the name 'Moses' or anything that could sound sensationalist,' he said. 'In fact, the only way to do serious work is to try to find elements that seem 'Biblical,' but to struggle to find alternative solutions that are at least as likely.' Mainstream scholars, however, remain unconvinced. Dr Thomas Schneider, Egyptologist at the University of British Columbia, dismissed the claims as 'completely unproven and misleading,' warning that 'arbitrary' letter identifications could warp our understanding of ancient history. Still, the debate is heating up. According to the Jerusalem Post, structured-light scans of the mines are set to expand the known inscription catalogue to 'well over twenty' and will be posted as open-access 3D models later this year. With the geographical spread of Proto-Sinaitic script from Egypt through Sinai into Canaan mapping neatly onto the biblical Exodus route, believers say the discovery is no coincidence. Critics counter that the weathered carvings could simply be Semitic graffiti from migrant workers. 4 The Proto-Sinaitic carving, found 357 in Mine L, dates back to around 1800BC Credit: johannes gutenberg university mainz
Economist
05-06-2025
- Economist
How old are the Dead Sea Scrolls? An AI model can help
EVER SINCE the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by Bedouin shepherds in the 1940s, debate has raged over their exact age. The scrolls, which contain the earliest surviving copies of books from the Hebrew Bible and other religious texts, mostly written in Aramaic and Hebrew, are thought to have been compiled sometime between 300BC and 200AD. Dating each of the 1,000-odd individual scrolls would help historians understand how literacy spread among ancient Jewish populations and the first Christians, and offer a valuable window into the genesis of the sacred texts. But scholars hoping to do so have had little but their own intuition to rely on.
