Israeli Antiquities Authority Says ‘James Ossuary’ a Phony foxnews.com
JERUSALEM — An ancient burial box purported to have held the bones of Jesus’ brother, James, is a fake, Israel’s Antiquities Authority (search) said Wednesday.
The ossuary, which bore the inscription “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus,” had been touted by some scholars as the oldest archaeological link to New Testament (search) figures.
But Israeli officials described that inscription, as well as another purported archaeological marvel, the “Yoash inscription,” as “forgeries.”
Having followed the story of this ossuary for some time now, I have noticed a number of holes in the arguments for its authenticity. Quite frankly, I am surprised the credibility of the ossuary as genuine has lasted as long as it has. Falsified antiquities have been a thriving business for hundreds, if not thousands of years now.