The Authenticity of the James Ossuary - Open Journal of Geology

OJG > Vol.4 No.3, March 2014

Open Journal of Geology

Volume 4, Issue 3 (March 2014)

ISSN Print: 2161-7570 ISSN Online: 2161-7589

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.83 Citations h5-index & Ranking

The Authenticity of the James Ossuary ()

HTML

Download as PDF (Size: 557KB) PP. 69-78

DOI: 10.4236/ojg.2014.43007 9,013 Downloads 18,867 Views Citations

Author(s)

Amnon Rosenfeld, Howard R. Feldman, Wolfgang E. Krumbein

Affiliation(s)

Geological Survey of Israel (Emeritus), Jerusalem, Israel.
Geomicrobiology, ICBM, Carl von Ossietzky Universitaet, Oldenburg, Germany.
Lander College for Women, The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School, A Division of Touro College, New York, USA.

ABSTRACT

An archaeometric analysis of the James Ossuary inscription “James Son of Joseph Brother of Jesus” strengthens the contention that the ossuary and its engravings are authentic. The beige patina can be observed on the surface of the ossuary, continuing gradationally into the engraved inscription. Fine long striations made by the friction of falling roof rocks continuously crosscut the letters. Many dissolution pits are superimposed on several of the letters of the inscription. In addition to calcite and quartz, the patina contains the following minerals: apatite, whewellite and weddelite (calcium oxalate). These minerals result from the biogenic activity of microorganisms that require a long period of time to form a bio-patina. Moreover, the heterogeneous existence of wind-blown microfossils (nannofossils and foraminifers) and quartz within the patina of the ossuary, including the lettering zone, reinforces the authenticity of the inscription.

KEYWORDS

James Ossuary; Archaeometric; Patina; Cretaceous; Nari; Geo-Microbiogenic; Microfossils

Share and Cite:

Rosenfeld, A. , Feldman, H. and Krumbein, W. (2014) The Authenticity of the James Ossuary. Open Journal of Geology, 4, 69-78. doi: 10.4236/ojg.2014.43007.

Cited by

[1]	La Confiabilidad Histórica de los Evangelios
	2022

[2]	Getting at Jesus: A Comprehensive Critique of Neo-Atheist Nonsense about the Jesus of History
	2019

[3]	Jaqob, son of Jeshua's brother Joseph or Jaqob, son of Joseph, nephew of Jeshua
	2019

[4]	COMMENTS ON SOME GRAFFITI OF IRUÑA-VELEIA
	2015

[5]	COMMENTS ON SOME GRAFFITI FROM IRUÑA-VELEIA
	2015

[6]	Origins and Earth History


[7]	Archaeological Evidence for the Life of Jesus

Journals Menu

Follow SCIRP

	+1 323-425-8868
	customer@scirp.org
	+86 18163351462(WhatsApp)
	1655362766

	Paper Publishing WeChat

Journals Menu

Home

About SCIRP

Service

Policies