Faking Biblical History

The writer discusses controversy surrounding two astounding discoveries that recently surfaced in Jeusalem. On October 21, 2002, the story of the James Ossuary, touted as the bone box that once held the remains of Jesus's brother James, exploded into the headlines. It was authenticated by renowned Semitic epigrapher André Lemaire and by some laboratory tests conducted by scientists at the Geological Survey of Israel. In January 2003, another amazing and unprecedented archaeological discovery, the “Jehoash Inscription” that described repairs to the Temple in Jerusalem seemingly overseen by Jehoash, was revealed to the world. In March 2003, the objects were subjected to an intensive, official examination by a multidisciplinary team of specialists assembled by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which concluded that both were modern fakes.