The James Ossuary, a carved limestone box dating back to the first century, has been heralded as one of the most significant archaeological finds related to the era of Christ.

This 2,000-year-old artifact caught the world’s attention in 2002 when it was showcased in Washington, D.C., and touted as the first potential physical proof of Jesus Christ’s existence.

The ossuary’s notoriety stems from an inscription in Aramaic that translates to “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” This reference has intrigued scholars and the public alike due to its direct connection to the biblical figures.

Given the alignment of these names with those of Jesus of Nazareth’s family, there is considerable speculation that the ossuary may have once contained the remains of James the Just, who was a pivotal leader of the early Christian community in Jerusalem after Jesus’s crucifixion.

The authenticity of the inscription, particularly the segment mentioning the “brother of Jesus,” has sparked international debate, as noted by archaeologist Bryan Windle in an interview with the Daily Mail.

‘In my view, the evidence suggests the James Ossuary is a legitimate first-century CE bone box and that the entire inscription is authentic,’ he said. 

While archaeologists agree that the box itself is authentic and dates from the right period, the inscription is another matter, with some having suggested that the ‘brother of Jesus’ part was added at a later date.

The evidence hinges on whether the letters of the second half of the inscription ‘match’ the first half, and whether the ‘patina’ of ageing is the same across both halves.

Its fame comes from an Aramaic inscription, which reads: ‘Ya’akov bar Yosef achui de Yeshua’, meaning ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus’

Israeli antiquities dealer Oded Golan was acquitted of faking the relic

The James Ossuary was not discovered in a formal archaeological excavation, but surfaced on the antiquities market in the 1970s. 

Its exact original findspot is unknown, though it was likely unearthed in the Jerusalem area or the West Bank, where many first-century tombs containing ossuaries have been found. 

Controversy over the ossuary began in 2003 when its owner, Oded Golan, was accused of forging the inscription, including the ‘brother of Jesus’ portion, and applying a patina to make it appear ancient. 

Golan was acquitted after a long trial, though the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) had declared the ossuary a forgery on June 18, 2003, a ruling Golan said ignored proper examination. 

He had acquired the ossuary in the 1970s from dealers in Jerusalem and the West Bank, revealing it three decades later.

Golan was found guilty only of lesser charges. Windle acknowledged the difficulties in proving authenticity, telling Daily Mail: ‘It is admittedly problematic that the James Ossuary was not discovered in a controlled archaeological excavation but surfaced through the antiquities market, complicating definitive authentication. 

‘However, expert testimony presented by proponents of forgery collapsed under cross-examination at the forgery trial associated with the artifact.’

After the trial, Golan said: ‘The hot-air balloon released by the prosecution and the IAA has finally popped. 

The limestone box, or ossuary, features the inscription ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus,’ written in ancient Aramaic

An artifact believed to have once contained the bones of Jesus’ brother James sits on display at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto in 2002

‘The court has said its word and unequivocally determined that all the attempts to label others forgers were refuted in entirety.’ 

The judge, however, noted the acquittal ‘does not mean that the inscription on the ossuary is authentic or that it was written 2,000 years ago.’

Windle said later analysis supports authenticity, despite the IAA’s position. 

The ossuary was broken during shipping to the Royal Ontario Museum in 2003, providing a rare opportunity to study it closely. 

Bryan Windle  told DailyMail.com ‘In summary, I believe the ossuary once held the bones of James, who was known in the first century as the ‘brother of Jesus.’

Edward J. Keall, former Senior Curator at the ROM, wrote: ‘We were able to show that the so-called ‘two-hand’ theory was baseless. 

‘Our examination showed that part of the inscription had been recently cleaned, a little too vigorously, with a sharp tool. And for some reason, whoever did it cleaned the beginning of the inscription, but not the end.’

The Talpiot tomb, discovered in a construction site in Jerusalem in 1980, contained ten ossuaries with inscriptions naming figures such as Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

Some researchers have suggested that the James Ossuary could be the ‘missing’ tenth ossuary from this tomb, potentially connecting it directly to the family of Jesus of Nazareth. 

James is said to have died as a martyr either in 62AD by being stoned to death on the order of a high priest, or in 69 AD by being thrown off the pinnacle of the Temple by scribes and Pharisees and then clubbed to death

However, archaeologists have largely rejected this theory because the James Ossuary’s dimensions and style differ from those of the other ossuaries found in Talpiot, making it unlikely that it originated from the same tomb. 

The controversy has fueled ongoing debate among scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts over whether the ossuary is authentic, related to Jesus’s family or simply a coincidental first-century artifact. 

The debate continues, but Windle says modern testing strengthens the case for authenticity. 

‘Claims that the latter part of the inscription (‘brother of Yeshu’a [Jesus]’) was added later have been undermined by further testing that demonstrates the presence of ancient patina in letters in both portions of the inscription,’ he said.

‘In summary, I believe the ossuary once held the bones of James, who was known in the first century as the ‘brother of Jesus,’ a designation also attested by Josephus (Antiquities 20.9.1).’