Question

The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of some 981 different texts discovered between 1946 and 1956 in 11 caves near the shore of the Dead Sea. These texts have great religious significance because they include some of the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible Canon. Scholars have debated every aspect of the scrolls, such as the age, when and where they were placed in the caves, whether they were placed together at the same time, why they were placed, and why they were left. Radiocarbon dating has been performed by three scholars: Zurich, Tucson, and Libby. The following are their samples: TUCSON'S DATA Title of Manuscript Tested 14C Age Margin of Error 4Q249 pap cryptA 2097 50 4Q208 (4QEnastr) 2095 20 4Q317 Phases of the Moon 2084 30 1QpHab Habakkuk Commentary 2054 22 4Q22 paleoExodus 2044 65 1QS Community Rule 2041 68 4Q22 paleoExodusm patch 2024 39 4Q521 Messianic Apocalypse 1984 33 4Q258 Comm. Rule, 2nd sample 1964 45 4Q266 Damascus Document 1954 38 4Q171 Psalms Commentary 1944 23 Qumran 4Q Linen with leather thong 2069 40 4Q258 Comm. Rule, 1st sample 1823 24 ZURICH'S DATA Title of Manuscript Tested 14C Age Margin of Error Wadi-Daliyeh deed 2289 55 Testament of Qahat 2240 39 Frg.3 (perhaps from 4Q365) 2139 32 1QIsaiah 2128 38 4Q213 Levi ar 2125 24 4Q53 Samuel 2095 49 11Q19 Temple Scroll 2030 32 1QApGen Genesis Apocryphon 2013 32 1QH Thanksgiving Scroll 1979 32 LIBBY'S DATA Title of Manuscript Tested 14C Age Margin of Error 4Q267 2094 29 Qumran 1Q linen 1917 200 The half-life of Carbon-14 (14C), the organic matter used in radiocarbon dating, is about 5760 years. The 14C Age tells the number of years before 1950. We want to compare the findings of the three scholars: Tucson, Zurich, and Libby. Take the 14C Age and calculate the proportion (as a decimal rounded to the 4th decimal place) of Carbon-14 remaining in the year 1950. Calculate the proportion of Carbon-14 remaining in the year 1950 and create a 5-number summary (for Libby it will be a 3-number summary) as well as a box plot for all three scholars. [BIG HINT Consider the 1st manuscript: 4Q249 pap cryptA Its 14C age is 2097, meaning it dates to 2097 years before 1950. So what percent remains in 1950? To help determine this, we need to know by what percent 14C is decaying each year. Since the half-life is 5760 years, we can find the per-year rate by using the following formula: 1 * [(1 - r)^(5760)] = 1/2 our initial value is 1 to represent 100% we use a minus sign to represent decay Now, we can solve for r. Once you have r, we can take the 14C date (for example, 2097) and use it to find the percent remaining in 1950, i.e. 1 * [(1 - r)^2097] = ? Repeat for all of the scrolls to determine the percent remaining for each.] Include our data, the two 5-number and one 3-number summaries, and all 3 box plots. You are encouraged to construct your box plots in Excel, but be consistent with scale. Once finished, answer the following questions: 1. Was the remaining quantities of radioactivity fairly consistent between labs? What is your rationale for why that is? 2. Which lab seemed to test the oldest scrolls: Tucson, Zurich, or Libby? Why? 3. Which lab seemed to test the youngest scroll: Tucson, Zurich, or Libby? Why? 4. In your opinion, do you think all of the scrolls could have been placed at the same time according to the information presented today? Why or why not? 5. In your opinion, do the newer tests appear more accurate than the older tests? Explain your reasoning.

Name: the dead sea scrolls are a collection of some 981 different texts discovered between 1946 and 1956 in 11 caves near the shore of the dead sea these texts have great religious significance be 64381
Uploaded: 2023-06-23T18:10:45-08:00
Duration: 3 min 19 s
Channel: Adi S
Description: the dead sea scrolls are a collection of some 981 different texts discovered between 1946 and 1956 in 11 caves near the shore of the dead sea these texts have great religious significance be 64381

Scholars have debated every aspect of the scrolls, such as the age, when and where they were placed in the caves, whether they were placed together at the same time, why they were placed, and why they were left.

Radiocarbon dating has been performed by three scholars: Zurich, Tucson, and Libby. The following are their samples:

TUCSON'S DATA
Title of Manuscript Tested
14C Age
Margin of Error
4Q249 pap cryptA
2097
50
4Q208 (4QEnastr)
2095
20
4Q317 Phases of the Moon
2084
30
1QpHab Habakkuk Commentary
2054
22
4Q22 paleoExodus
2044
65
1QS Community Rule
2041
68
4Q22 paleoExodusm patch
2024
39
4Q521 Messianic Apocalypse
1984
33
4Q258 Comm. Rule, 2nd sample
1964
45
4Q266 Damascus Document
1954
38
4Q171 Psalms Commentary
1944
23
Qumran 4Q Linen with leather thong
2069
40
4Q258 Comm. Rule, 1st sample
1823
24

ZURICH'S DATA
Title of Manuscript Tested
14C Age
Margin of Error
Wadi-Daliyeh deed
2289
55
Testament of Qahat
2240
39
Frg.3 (perhaps from 4Q365)
2139
32
1QIsaiah
2128
38
4Q213 Levi ar
2125
24
4Q53 Samuel
2095
49
11Q19 Temple Scroll
2030
32
1QApGen Genesis Apocryphon
2013
32
1QH Thanksgiving Scroll
1979
32

LIBBY'S DATA
Title of Manuscript Tested
14C Age
Margin of Error
4Q267
2094
29
Qumran 1Q linen
1917
200

The half-life of Carbon-14 (14C), the organic matter used in radiocarbon dating, is about 5760 years. The 14C Age tells the number of years before 1950.

We want to compare the findings of the three scholars: Tucson, Zurich, and Libby. Take the 14C Age and calculate the proportion (as a decimal rounded to the 4th decimal place) of Carbon-14 remaining in the year 1950.

Calculate the proportion of Carbon-14 remaining in the year 1950 and create a 5-number summary (for Libby it will be a 3-number summary) as well as a box plot for all three scholars.

[BIG HINT
Consider the 1st manuscript: 4Q249 pap cryptA
Its 14C age is 2097, meaning it dates to 2097 years before 1950. So what percent remains in 1950?
To help determine this, we need to know by what percent 14C is decaying each year. Since the half-life is 5760 years, we can find the per-year rate by using the following formula:
1 * [(1 - r)^(5760)] = 1/2
*our initial value is 1 to represent 100%
*we use a minus sign to represent decay
Now, we can solve for r. Once you have r, we can take the 14C date (for example, 2097) and use it to find the percent remaining in 1950, i.e.
1 * [(1 - r)^2097] = ?
Repeat for all of the scrolls to determine the percent remaining for each.]

Include our data, the two 5-number and one 3-number summaries, and all 3 box plots. You are encouraged to construct your box plots in Excel, but be consistent with scale.

Once finished, answer the following questions:

1. Was the remaining quantities of radioactivity fairly consistent between labs? What is your rationale for why that is?
2. Which lab seemed to test the oldest scrolls: Tucson, Zurich, or Libby? Why?
3. Which lab seemed to test the youngest scroll: Tucson, Zurich, or Libby? Why?
4. In your opinion, do you think all of the scrolls could have been placed at the same time according to the information presented today? Why or why not?
5. In your opinion, do the newer tests appear more accurate than the older tests? Explain your reasoning.

Added by Edward H.

Chemistry: Structure and Properties

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06/23/2023

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The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of some 981 different texts discovered between 1946 and 1956 in 11 caves near the shore of the Dead Sea. These texts have great religious significance because they include some of the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible Canon. Scholars have debated every aspect of the scrolls, such as the age, when and where they were placed in the caves, whether they were placed together at the same time, why they were placed, and why they were left. Radiocarbon dating has been performed by three scholars: Zurich, Tucson, and Libby. The following are their samples: TUCSON'S DATA Title of Manuscript Tested 14C Age Margin of Error 4Q249 pap cryptA 2097 50 4Q208 (4QEnastr) 2095 20 4Q317 Phases of the Moon 2084 30 1QpHab Habakkuk Commentary 2054 22 4Q22 paleoExodus 2044 65 1QS Community Rule 2041 68 4Q22 paleoExodusm patch 2024 39 4Q521 Messianic Apocalypse 1984 33 4Q258 Comm. Rule, 2nd sample 1964 45 4Q266 Damascus Document 1954 38 4Q171 Psalms Commentary 1944 23 Qumran 4Q Linen with leather thong 2069 40 4Q258 Comm. Rule, 1st sample 1823 24 ZURICH'S DATA Title of Manuscript Tested 14C Age Margin of Error Wadi-Daliyeh deed 2289 55 Testament of Qahat 2240 39 Frg.3 (perhaps from 4Q365) 2139 32 1QIsaiah 2128 38 4Q213 Levi ar 2125 24 4Q53 Samuel 2095 49 11Q19 Temple Scroll 2030 32 1QApGen Genesis Apocryphon 2013 32 1QH Thanksgiving Scroll 1979 32 LIBBY'S DATA Title of Manuscript Tested 14C Age Margin of Error 4Q267 2094 29 Qumran 1Q linen 1917 200 The half-life of Carbon-14 (14C), the organic matter used in radiocarbon dating, is about 5760 years. The 14C Age tells the number of years before 1950. We want to compare the findings of the three scholars: Tucson, Zurich, and Libby. Take the 14C Age and calculate the proportion (as a decimal rounded to the 4th decimal place) of Carbon-14 remaining in the year 1950. Calculate the proportion of Carbon-14 remaining in the year 1950 and create a 5-number summary (for Libby it will be a 3-number summary) as well as a box plot for all three scholars. [BIG HINT Consider the 1st manuscript: 4Q249 pap cryptA Its 14C age is 2097, meaning it dates to 2097 years before 1950. So what percent remains in 1950? To help determine this, we need to know by what percent 14C is decaying each year. Since the half-life is 5760 years, we can find the per-year rate by using the following formula: 1 * [(1 - r)^(5760)] = 1/2 *our initial value is 1 to represent 100% *we use a minus sign to represent decay Now, we can solve for r. Once you have r, we can take the 14C date (for example, 2097) and use it to find the percent remaining in 1950, i.e. 1 * [(1 - r)^2097] = ? Repeat for all of the scrolls to determine the percent remaining for each.] Include our data, the two 5-number and one 3-number summaries, and all 3 box plots. You are encouraged to construct your box plots in Excel, but be consistent with scale. Once finished, answer the following questions: 1. Was the remaining quantities of radioactivity fairly consistent between labs? What is your rationale for why that is? 2. Which lab seemed to test the oldest scrolls: Tucson, Zurich, or Libby? Why? 3. Which lab seemed to test the youngest scroll: Tucson, Zurich, or Libby? Why? 4. In your opinion, do you think all of the scrolls could have been placed at the same time according to the information presented today? Why or why not? 5. In your opinion, do the newer tests appear more accurate than the older tests? Explain your reasoning.