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Document Details :

Title: Carbon Dating and the Tchacos Codex
Author(s): ASKELAND, Christian
Journal: Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists
Volume: 58    Date: 2021   
Pages: 299-314
DOI: 10.2143/BASP.58.0.3289961

Abstract :
In the 2007 National Geographic publication of the Tchacos codex, Herbert Krosney argued through radiometric evidence that the famous codex had a date of 280 CE (±60 years). Krosney’s date would have placed this codex before the era of Constantine and the rise of official imperial Christianity and would indeed establish this codex as the earliest securely dated Christian manuscript. The present discussion will review Krosney’s use of 14C evidence and consider what limitations this method offers to scholars of ancient manuscripts in general.

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