‘James ossuary’ case acquittal

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www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/antiquities-collector-acquitted-of-forgery-charges-in-james-ossuary-case/article2368752/

Antiquities collector acquitted of forgery charges in ‘James ossuary’ case

A Roman-era burial box inscribed “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” was reprieved from the scrapheap of history on Wednesday when a Jerusalem judge completely exonerated an Israeli antiquities collector who had been accused of forging it.

The verdict, delivered by Judge Aharon Farkash in a tiny, crowded courtroom in the Jerusalem District Courthouse, ended a seven-year ordeal for the accused, Oded Golan, 60, but it will do little to extinguish the decade-long scientific controversy over the authenticity of the limestone box which has raged since it was first displayed to the public at the Royal Ontario Museum in 2002

“This is not to say that the inscription on the ossuary is true and authentic and was written 2,000 years ago,” he said. “We can expect this matter to continue to be researched in the archaeological and scientific worlds and only the future will tell. Moreover, it has not been proved in any way that the words ‘brother of Jesus’ definitely refer to the Jesus who appears in Christian writings.’

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uk.news.yahoo.com/israel-court-rule-jesus-brothers-casket-080058094.html

Oded Golan was accused of committing fraud in producing what the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) ruled in 2003 were actually a series of convincing but ultimately forged relics.

But the case fell through, with Golan acquitted of faking the sarcophagus as well as another supposedly ancient stone tablet, because of lack of evidence, according to a copy of the ruling seen by AFP. He was also acquitted of several other charges of forgery, but convicted on two minor counts of possession of suspected stolen goods, and trading antiquities without a permit.

And some of the charges were dropped because the statute of limitations had expired.


But Yair Kachel, Golan's spokesman, said the verdict proved the items were genuine.

"Mr Golan is one of the most important Israeli antiques dealers and his good faith has been recognised by the court," he told AFP. "Our experts convinced the judges that these items were authentic."

Golan always denied any wrongdoing, and said he bought the ossuary for $200 (150 euros) at an antique shop in Jerusalem's Old City, although he said he had forgotten exactly where.




People are very suspicious of even the most well-meaning individuals?

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It's a messy business, but the stakes are high. Shanks is lauding the ruling as the decision of Daniel, but he doesn't paper over the cracks very well. To give him credit, he also acknowledges that this ruling doesn't settle the issue of authenticity concerning the three artifacts in question.