British Museum expert called to give evidence in trial over 'ossuary of Je

[emad]

Sunday TelegraphBy Inigo Gilmore
(Filed: 09/01/2005)

A wealthy Israeli art collector and an Egyptologist who works for the British Museum have been named as key prosecution witnesses in the trial of five men accused of running the world's biggest ring of dealers in bogus religious artefacts.

The sophisticated forgeries, which were sold for tens of millions of pounds, allegedly include an ossuary, or burial box, whose ancient Aramaic inscription suggests that it once held the bones of "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus".

It caused a worldwide sensation when it surfaced in 2002, hailed by archaeologists and academics as the most significant Judaeo-Christian find ever unearthed.

Israel's Antiquities Authority, however, recently declared it a fake and prosecutors in Jerusalem claim that leading authorities who authenticated it were duped. The scandal threatens to undermine Israel's rich tradition of biblical archaeology and embarrass international institutions - including the British Museum, according to Israeli police - where some works were exhibited.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/09/wrelic09.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/09/ixworld.html

[Warpy]

1. Saw a discussion of it on PBS

It was such a clumsy fake that only a rabid believer would have bought it: the carving was from two different periods, in two different styles with the "brother of Jesus" added much, much later. Even my untrained eyes could see where it changed. The "James, son of Joseph" was straight and well done; the "brother of Jesus" trailed off at an angle with crooked letters. The difference in patina was also obvious, even on TV.

Believers have left themselves looking just a little desperate over this stuff. Believe if you want to, but realize that the history of the region makes it extremely unlikely you'll find anything from the period you're looking for, much less the man.

[InvisibleBallots]

2. the prosecutor said they had duped experts at museums across

the world, and that they all need to look at any "ancient artifacts" they have aquired recently.

"Believers have left themselves looking just a little desperate over this stuff."

Yes, the believers in the traditional history of the "ancient world" - expecially, the so-called skepical, scientific ones, got taken for a ride the last 20 years.

[Az]

3. This is one of the key problems with the historical Jesus

There is a need to believe on the part of the believers. They will blind themself to obvious flaws to find something to show he existed. It is often more a matter of fighting emotions than finding evidence.

[InvisibleBallots]

4. yes, also the Historical Moses, David, Solomon

or Dante and Homer for that matter.