Using microanalytical techniques, scientists at Mc Crone Associates determined the types and ages of the inks used to create this ancient document.These findings helped to validate the authenticity of the document and identified the ink itself to be of additional significance.EUROFINS FORENSIC SERVICES is fortunate in having the backing of its world renowned analytical chemistry section.This means that we can use high end techniques to examine inks such as Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry.
Over 50 preparations, ranging from fragments of papyrus to individual ink particles, were mounted, characterized, and analyzed during the course of the investigation.
For these reasons a direct dating of ink lines is seldom carried out by this Laboratory.
The National Geographic Society consulted with Mc Crone Associates as part of their international team to help authenticate the 1,700-year-old document and only known surviving copy of the Gospel of Judas.
He examined the document and sampled the ink and papyrus from two different pages of the codex; these samples were then analyzed at Mc Crone Associates’ laboratory in Westmont, Illinois.
The samples were prepared for analysis within Mc Crone Associates’ ISO 5 (Class 100) cleanroom to avoid possible contamination.