Papyrus on Mummy Mask Concealed the Oldest Gospel of Mark

Researchers examining mummy masks made an unusually finding when they discovered text from gospel of Mark. The text is reportedly from the oldest copy of gospel ever found.

According to The Washington Post, mummy masks for the average person were usually made from recycled papyrus, unlike the bejeweled golden masks of royal mummies. It was on one such mask that researchers found gospel texts, reportedly dating to 90 AD. The earliest known texts today date to some time between 101 and 200 AD.

Craig Evans, professor of New Testament studies at Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia was quoted saying by Fox News that ancient texts beside the gospel, like works of Homer, were found. Though texts have not been published and more details are not available due to a non-disclosure agreement binding on the researchers, the team confided that dating of texts was done by viewing other texts, carbon dating and handwriting analysis. However the texts are expected to be published later this year as a compilation.

Speaking about the gospel of Mark, Evans said mummy mask texts could help understand how the gospel changed over time.

While the team received attention, it has also drawn criticism. Smithsonian reported that archaeologists and historians are questioning the claims as they have not been published. They have also been skeptical about the papyrus extraction methods employed by Evans and his team, as the technique used destroys the masks in order for the text to be preserved.