More on that Syriac manuscript in Turkey

THE SYRIAC MANUSCRIPT recovered recently from smugglers by the Turkish police has been the subject of some discussion on Facebook and on the Hugoye list. Briefly, the video of the manuscript gives a pretty good look at all the text. It contains material from the Gospel of Matthew, but out of order. The general view seems to be that the manuscript in the form presented now looks fake, although it is perhaps possible that a genuinely old manuscript has been used and doctored with modern drawings to make it look more interesting. All of this is just informed speculation at this stage, and we won't know anything definitively unless and until the Turkish authorities make the manuscript available for specialists to study properly. Meanwhile, have a look at the discussion at the Hugoye list, which is devoted to Syriac matters. So far there are posts on the manuscript here, here, here, here, and here.