Toto

Insane? I doubt it. They did it for the money, which is a very rational reason.

someotherguy

Well, I wasn't really speaking to they mental state of the alleged forgerers. I was speaking more to the whole situation. I remember when I was attending Wheaton College (a small Christian Liberal arts school near Chicago), the archaelogy department had the ossuary on campus for a while. I never saw it, but it was there. It was a pretty big deal too.

BigJim

I'm surprised I haven't been able to find another thread on this. This article is on CNN's front page, and talks about phony relics.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/....ap/index.html

An interesting quote:
"Scholars said the forgers were exploiting the deep emotional need of Jews and Christians to find physical evidence to reinforce their faith. "This does not discredit the profession. It discredits unscrupulous dealers and collectors,""

Sensei Meela

Well, there is this merged thread, actually.

Which is partly true; but the fact that there does exist a deep emotional need for phyisical evidence suggests that the objectivity displayed in the field may be somewhat lacking. It does sound like a desperate attempt to salvage a now sullied name, though. [btw, did you catch Oded's excuse for the ossuary? ]

BigJim

Ooops, nevermind. Bad search. Mods, feel free to lock this thread.

Amaleq13

I decided to merge you into the merged thread instead in case your link hasn't been linked before.

MiddleMan

Which is what led me to post and bring to the fore the following thread

http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=49933

regarding internet apologist and windbag Robert Turkel's defense of this "remarkable discovery."

I'm curious if anyone knows Turkel's reaction after his (ahem) "passion-filled" defense?

Toto

Slate's explainer explains how the patina was faked.

Haran

If true, and not mass paranoia and/or propaganda on the part of a few involved in the investigation, then it is truly sad. Who knows how long it will take, but I will be following events to see whether the prosecution has tangible evidence against those indicted and to see whether that evidence produces a conviction. Perhaps my own questions about the authenticity of the ossuary can finally be put to rest.

I must ask how certain people and "scholars" seemed know details of the alleged "worldwide forgery ring" and what artifacts were being investigated while (or even before) the investigation was taking place. Weren't these details supposed to be classified, something not to be talked about during an investigation? Perhaps it is unwarranted, but I am still highly suspicious of the IAA, the way they have handled the investigation, and they way they have been so public with their accusations. Why the show on Israeli TV? Could all of this leaking of information and speculation influence prospective jurors?

If responsible for forgery, I hope the evidence is shown to prove the case and the perpetrators brought to justice. I then hope, if a case for forgery is made, that reputable scholars can lead the way to a restoration, if possible, of the regrettable corruption done by the few or many forged artifacts.

The whole mess is truly sad and has been poorly handled by all involved.

Steven Carr

'by all involved'???

By the Christians who claimed that the ossuary confirmed that james existed, as though there were doubts?

Or by sceptics who called it right from day 1?

The sceptics who could not understand how Golan had no understanding of the significance of the inscription, when Lemaire claimed that it was Golan who first pointed out the unusualness of the inscription.

I feel genuine compassion for Haran, who really wanted to know the truth about the inscription ,and fought for what he felt was the truth.

In many ways, he comes out better than cynics than me from the whole sorry business.