Dating Dead Sea Scrolls

2nd century BCE to 1st century CE.
4Q76:
Russell Fuller says: “The script of 4QXIIᵃ is a semicursive hand of the early Hasmonean period. Paleographically the script of 4QXIIᵃ may be dated in the second century before the common era to approximately 150-125” (“Text-Critical Problems in Malachi 2:10-16”, p. 47; JBL, 1991).
The name Dead Sea Scrolls refers to some 1200 manuscripts found in caves in the hills on the western shore of the Dead Sea during the last 45 yr. They range in size from small fragments to complete books from the holy scriptures (the Old Testament). The manuscripts also include uncanonized sectarian books, letters and commercial documents, wirtten on papyrus and parchment. In only a few cases, direct information on the date of writing was found in the scrolls. In all other cases, the dating is based on indirect archaeological and palaeographical evidence. To check this evidence, radiocarbon ages of 14 selected scrolls were determined using accelerator mass spectrometry. The calibrated radiocarbon ages agree well, except in one case, with the paleographic estimates or the specific dates noted on the scrolls.

The Dating of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Millar Burrows