3 ms·

This sounds like he's using handwriting analysis on ancient text. I don't think modern handwriting analysis has a stellar record, I can't imagine it works great

• giraffe_lady 4y ago
  Forensic handwriting analysis is pretty much fake but I don't get the impression this is that. Scripts for a given writing system change by time and place and noting when the techniques used in a document don't match its purported origin is just standard shit in the practice of certain branches of history.
• Archelaos 4y ago
  Investigating wether manuscripts or inscriptions might by forgeries is a common taks in philology. There are a lot of them. "Good" forgeries use blank ancient papyros and even try to recreate ancient ink. So if the material looks authentic, it might neverthelss be a forgery. Therefore you look for mistakes of the forger. Perhaps the shape of a letter is too modern or too ancient, or a phrase, a word or a spelling does not fit. Or in the Qumran example: If you were sold a bunch of superficially very different manuscripts and then discover that they all agree in some subtle features, they are forgeries. A single such observation may raise doubts, but is usally (exceptions exist) not enough to be sure that a forgery is present. However, the more there are, the more certain one can be.
• wl 4y ago
  Paleography is a different animal than handwriting analysis.