Steps in Identifying Hoax (Testing Authenticity)

Question 1

• e.g. pencils did not exist during
  the 16th century

Answer 1

Determine the date of the document to see whether they are not anachronistic

Question 2

• e.g. handwriting, signature, seal

Answer 2

Determining the author

Question 3

• e.g. idiom, orthography, and punctuation that don’t belong to that certain period

Answer 3

Look for anachronistic style

Question 4

• e.g. is it too late, too early, or too remote?

Answer 4

Look for anachronistic reference to events

Question 5

• e.g. genuineness

Answer 5

Identifying provenance or custody

Question 6

• the meaning of the text/word; does this word exist during this time?

Answer 6

Determining semantics

Question 7

• ambiguities

Answer 7

Determining hermeneutics