The much ballyhooed James Ossuary (theosebes has ballyhooed it, too) has been declared by Israel's Antiquities Authority to be a forgery:
But Israeli officials described that inscription, as well as another purported archaeological marvel, the "Yoash inscription," as "forgeries."
"The inscriptions, possibly inscribed in two separate stages, are not authentic," the Antiquities Authority said in a statement.
The officials reached their conclusions after intensive exams by several committees of experts.
Needless to say not all are convinced, particularly the ossuary's owner. Clearly this raises serious questions about the ossuary, but will by no means be the last word. As I've said before in regarding such archaelogical finds: they can provide wonderful evidence for those who are skeptical of the Bible, but it doesn't do anyone any good to pretend a forgery is true.
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