Burial box of Jesus's brother is hoax, say experts (Hoaxster charged with fraud)

The UK Times ^ | December 24, 2004 | Ian MacKinnon

[AAABEST]

AN ISRAELI collector of antiquities who stunned the world with a find that he said was the burial container of Jesus’ “brother”, James, is to be charged with forgery.

Justice Ministry officials said last night that Oded Golan would be indicted next week on a range of charges that would include forgery over an inscription on the stone container that carried the script in Aramaic reading: “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”.

Six others are also to be charged.

The discovery of the ossuary in October 2002 was hailed as one of the great archaeological discoveries of the age as it demonstrated a physical connection between the modern world and the Bible.

But suspicions were raised after experts were not given sufficient time to examine the ossuary properly before it was put on public display.

Closer inspection of the 50cm (20in) by 27cm (11in) container showed that the first section of the inscription was straight while the second section, “brother of Jesus”, was crooked.

Israel’s Antiquities Authority has concluded that the markings on the burial box, which dates from about 2,000 years ago when they were common, was an elaborate hoax. Part of the carving cut through the patina.

A documentary broadcast on Israeli television this year described Mr Golan as a talented confidence trickster who made millions of pounds selling forged antiquities to gullible buyers around the world.

Yoni Pagis, the deputy head of the Jerusalem fraud squad, told the film-makers that the fraud involved “dozens of items (produced) in co-operation with a number of people over a period of many years. It’s a real Pandora’s box. The scale is huge.”

Mr Golan declined to comment but said he would discuss the issue later. He has previously denied having any connection with forgeries.

[AAABEST]

I remember some here responded the this original false story with glee because it corresponded with their various agendas.

[AAABEST]

ping

[B Knotts]

Thanks for posting. Many suspected this all along.

[angkor]

I'm confused by this case.

A documentary on Frontline (IIRC) basically gave it balanced coverage, both sides of the issue, no firm conclusion.

But Biblical Archaeology Review - which is a great magazine and highly respected - gave it the thumbs up.

The most agresssive naysayers have been in the Israeli government.

What's up with this thing?

[PetroniusMaximus]

Biblical Archeology Review went to the mat on this box. They stated that there was a conspiricay to bring Golan down.

I still hope they are right but it doesn't look good.

[NYer]

Should have posted this to the News/Activism forum .. better coverage. Glad they have proven what we long ago concluded.

Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[NYer]

Ping!

[Nauta]

They still seem to be defending it in general.
http://www.bib-arch.org/bswbOOossuary.html

[Iris7]

I remember being very skeptical when the "discovery" of the ossuary was announced. Such an artifact available for sale would simply be too valuable monetarily and the discovery too unlikely.

[B Knotts]

Bad Aramaic Made Easy

Witherington's statement proved highly controversial. Though his characterization of Catholic teaching is not without problem, his assertion that there is an Aramaic word for cousin was egregious.

[SunkenCiv]

The only rush to judgment was to condemn the box as a fake. Alas, I didn't know about the Cornerstone U lectures (that's local for me) beforehand, or I would have gone if possible.

This isn't much of a story, as there are no new data:
http://www.bib-arch.org/bswbOOossuary_booze.html

one of the challenges (excerpt):

http://www.bib-arch.org/bswb_BAR/bswbba3006f6.html

"He [Tel Aviv University professor Yuval Goren] knew that an imitation of patina—the surface area that is visibly altered by the elements, providing a record of the stone’s interaction with its environment over time—could easily be faked in a lab."

So reported journalist David Samuels in an April 12, 2004, article in the New Yorker. The question: Why, if it is so easy, did Professor Goren pass up the opportunity to win $10,000?

[SunkenCiv]

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Last week during a couple of TV specials the Israeli investigators and archaeologists were interviewed. During a raid on Golan's home they found a lab with all the tools and materials necessary to create forgeries. They suspect he has been doing this for quite some time.

[A.A. Cunningham]

From October 2002:

Ossuary was genuine, inscription was faked

[Aquinasfan]

Hoax bump.

[DBeers]

I remember some here responded the this original false story with glee because it corresponded with their various agendas.

You dare suggest there are faithless conservatives that employ radical leftist techniques in pursuit of selfish agenda? -the horrrorrrrrr!!!!

[Zack Attack]

This is the same guy who owned the 1st temple period Jehoash tablet as well. Police reportedly found quite a bit of material used for forgery on his house.

[redgolum]

At this point, I doubt that the truth will come out. The Israeli government is out to get the owner, and various archaeologists are facing off against each other.


Remember though, the box just said James the brother of Jesus, it didn't have to be St. James, and they might have been step brothers (James from an earlier marriage of Joseph's).

[redgolum]

Yes he was the same guy. He has ties to some black market antiquities, and that is a hot button for the Israeli police.