[Avodah] oldest texts (by category??)

[Harvey Benton]

what are the oldest versions (of each masechta) that we have in existence??
does anyone have in their vaults (church/british museum, cairo, etc) have any
older manuscripts, and or does it really matter (eg, the current vilna?" edition?
is good enough??
-was talking to a nice gentleman over coffee, and he was explaining to me how
we have certain sfarim (from nach) that have been dated (by ink analysis,etc, )
and other factors, as being very close to the archaeological (amos??) dates of
when the ketuvim existed.......
i wonder if we have the same for other aspects; (eg mishna, (oldest chumash) etc, 
mecz
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