Police forensics join AI algorithms to track down who wrote the Bible, and when

Old-fashioned police forensics analysis met hi-tech computer algorithms in a new study of 2,500-year-old pottery sherds, in which Tel Aviv University researchers conclude that literacy was widespread enough for the fledgling People of the Book to have penned parts of the Bible in the 7th century BCE. "The high literacy rate detected within the small Arad stronghold… demonstrates widespread literacy in the late 7th century BCE Judahite military and administration apparatuses, with the ability to compose biblical texts during this period a possible by-product," write the researchers. This is the first study to combine forces between AI algorithms and human forensics know-how, the researchers note. The study, "Forensic document examination and algorithmic handwriting analysis of Judahite biblical period inscriptions reveal significant literacy level," was published September 9 in the prestigious online PLOS journal. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up The study combines high-resolution imaging methods and complex computer algorithms with trusted police handwriting analysis to prove that the examined 18 texts had no fewer than 12 different authors way back in circa 600 BCE.