Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 06-12-2003, 06:53 PM

I got excited at first when I saw these articles, but it appears that the stories are based on rumors and leaks - which are not necessarily inaccurate, but who knows.

I suspect we will not know anything more about the ossuary until this incident is resolved.

Tablet is fake

Quote:

The "Yehoash Tablet" is a forgery - at least according to a board of experts convened by the Antiquities Authority. The panel included archaeologists and ancient Hebrew script experts, whose findings will be published next week. It appears that Oded Golan, an antiquities dealer who tried to sell the stone, will be indicted - although he claims that the committee did not even hear him out before coming to its conclusion.

Ha'aretz

Quote:

An investigation by the Israel Antiquities Authority has found the inscription to be fake, the Ma'ariv daily said yesterday in an unattributed report.

Osnat Guez, a spokeswoman for the authority, said the investigation was in its last stages and that no final conclusions had been reached. Guez said the authority would announce its findings at the end of the month.

. . .

Golan said he was surprised by the newspaper report, as he was scheduled to appear before the investigation committee next week. He also said several renowned world and Israeli scholars have not yet given testimony. "Something is strange here," he said.

godfry n. glad · 06-13-2003, 07:31 AM

So... Let me get this straight...

The Joash Tablet was offered up _two_years_ago_? Is that right?

And, it was offered up by Oded Golan?

So, this self-same antiquities collector, a year to a year and a half later, after offering up a tablet adjudged to be a fraud, and before it is determined to be a fraud, invites a well-known scholar Lemaire to come over and see his ossuary of the brother of Jesus?

Is that right?

Or, was it that Lemaire "just happened to see" this ossuary while in Golan's home? I'm not quite sure how that story went.

Awwwww....C'mon....

They're joshing us, right? 'Cause I like the sound of this waaaaay too much.

godfry

godfry n. glad · 06-13-2003, 07:36 AM

And... Do I detect the possibility of complicity at the IGS?

Or was it just misdirected incompetence?

godfry

Celsus · 06-13-2003, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by godfry n. glad
And... Do I detect the possibility of complicity at the IGS?

Or was it just misdirected incompetence?

Another possibility is that the forgers are very familiar with the IGS' methods of testing ancient artefacts. Either way, Golan looks and acts like a rat. Maybe another Ron Wyatt in the making?

Joel

godfry n. glad · 06-13-2003, 07:47 AM

Ahh...

I went back and read them again and this jumped out at me:

Quote:

From the Ha'aretz

Osnat Guez, a spokeswoman for the authority,
said the investigation was in its last stages
and that no final conclusions had been reached.
Guez said the authority would announce its
findings at the end of the month.

Patience, godfry... patience.

gng

butswana · 06-13-2003, 08:03 AM

Ron Wyatt. HA! "I took pictures, but the local police took my camera." What a jack-ass.

godfry n. glad · 06-13-2003, 08:05 AM

Ron Wyatt? Enlighten me.

godfry

godfry n. glad · 06-13-2003, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Celsus
Another possibility is that the forgers are very familiar with the IGS' methods of testing ancient artefacts. Either way, Golan looks and acts like a rat. Maybe another Ron Wyatt in the making?

Joel

Maybe... But I'm still uncomfortable with the whole scenario. What was the IGS doing offering up opinions on the age of antiquities in the absence of such an investigation and opinion by the IAA?

It certainly seems to me that the IGS overstepped the bounds of its expertise twice in the recent past. Both times Mr. Golan was involved and both times it seems that scrutiny by the IAA was actively avoided. Perhaps there are more, as yet unrecognized, instances of their overstepping their authority.

I also note that when confronted, the IGS offered up a partial retraction of the their initial statement on the location of the quarrying and fabrication of the James ossuary. They admitted that they couldn't situate the material with the geographical accuracy claimed in the initial report, which was printed in the BAR article.

It seems that the BAR has been exceeding reluctant in publishing corrections to their article...as far as I know...I don't read the rag if I don't have to.

godfry

Celsus · 06-13-2003, 08:17 AM

Ron Wyatt? He's a well known fraud. Even the Christians reject his rubbish, although a few have tried to salvage him by saying to the effect that "he's a nice bloke, honest! Just sincerely wrong." etc.

Joel

godfry n. glad · 06-13-2003, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Celsus
Ron Wyatt? He's a well known fraud. Even the Christians reject his rubbish, although a few have tried to salvage him by saying to the effect that "he's a nice bloke, honest! Just sincerely wrong." etc.

Joel

Oh... Okay...

I think Oded Golan is much, much more sophisticated than Wyatt. Hell, he's even got the likes of Fitzmeyer and F.M. Cross scratching their heads and offering up support for authenticity, thanks to the participation of the likes of Shanks and Lemaire.

He's been stringing along the entire biblical archeology community, not just the more funadmentalist/creationist wing.

godfry

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-13-2003, 07:31 AM	#2
godfry n. glad Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: portland, oregon, usa Posts: 1,190	So... Let me get this straight... The Joash Tablet was offered up _two_years_ago_? Is that right? And, it was offered up by Oded Golan? So, this self-same antiquities collector, a year to a year and a half later, after offering up a tablet adjudged to be a fraud, and before it is determined to be a fraud, invites a well-known scholar Lemaire to come over and see his ossuary of the brother of Jesus? Is that right? Or, was it that Lemaire "just happened to see" this ossuary while in Golan's home? I'm not quite sure how that story went. Awwwww....C'mon.... They're joshing us, right? 'Cause I like the sound of this waaaaay too much. godfry

06-13-2003, 07:36 AM	#3
godfry n. glad Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: portland, oregon, usa Posts: 1,190	And... Do I detect the possibility of complicity at the IGS? Or was it just misdirected incompetence? godfry

06-13-2003, 08:03 AM	#6
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	Ron Wyatt. HA! "I took pictures, but the local police took my camera." What a jack-ass.

06-13-2003, 08:05 AM	#7
godfry n. glad Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: portland, oregon, usa Posts: 1,190	Ron Wyatt? Enlighten me. godfry

06-13-2003, 08:17 AM	#9
Celsus Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,875	Ron Wyatt? He's a well known fraud. Even the Christians reject his rubbish, although a few have tried to salvage him by saying to the effect that "he's a nice bloke, honest! Just sincerely wrong." etc. Joel

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.