04/03/96 - 08:50 AM ET - Click reload often for latest version
Experts: Coffins not those of Jesus' family
JERUSALEM - Israeli archaeologists on Tuesday disputed sensational =
claims that stone boxes found in Jerusalem once held the bones of Jesus, =
Mary and Joseph.=20
"It's a nice news story for Easter," said Israel Antiquities Authority =
spokesman Motti Neiger. "But the archaeological evidence shows that =
chances of these being the actual burials of the Holy Family are almost =
nil."=20
A British Broadcasting Corp. producer recently discovered the boxes =
inscribed with the names "Jesus," "Mary" and "Joseph" in a government =
warehouse of archaeological finds.=20
Hundreds of excited journalists, archaeologists and tourists have =
converged on a dusty and airless basement of the Israel Antiquities =
Authority for a glimpse.=20
"This could be a sign from above," said tourist Regina Murphy of =
Oklahoma City, 51. She blessed herself as she saw the relics. "This find =
is as important as the shroud of Jesus."=20
The engraving on one side of a mud-encrusted box appears to read "Yeshua =
bar Yehosef," or Jesus son of Joseph, in Aramaic.=20
But it's barely legible, so the antiquities authority said it was never =
sure what it had when it removed the box from an East Jerusalem plot in =
1980.=20
In keeping with Israeli law, the bones were turned over to rabbis, who =
gave them a Jewish burial nearly 15 years ago. No one knows where the =
bones are buried. And the archaeologist who found the boxes is dead.=20
According to the Bible, Jesus ascended physically into heaven. Biblical =
historians say Mary was buried in Gethsemane, a mile from where the =
boxes were found, and her husband, Joseph, was buried in Galilee.=20
Biblical scholars also note that nearly one in four women at the time =
was named Mary. And at least 10 urns bearing the name Jesus in Hebrew or =
Greek have been found in recent years.=20
"What we have is a tomb containing the remains of three generations of a =
nice Jerusalem family," said Israeli archaeologist L.Y. Rahmanim, who =
has cataloged more than 1,000 urns. "It's absurd to think that the urn =
will cast doubt on Christianity."=20
But that's not stopping the BBC.=20
"If the burial caskets contain the remains of Christ and his family, =
they would cast doubt on the Christian belief central to Easter, the =
Resurrection," the BBC will report Sunday.=20
By Abraham Rabinovich, Special for USA TODAY
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Replying to:
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From: Steven Fawl[SMTP:fawl@nvc.cc.ca.us]
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 1996 2:00 PM
To: asa@Calvin.EDU
Cc: evolution@Calvin.EDU
Subject: Jesus' Tomb and Bones
I heard on the news today that an ancient grave site was found that has
caskets filled with bones and they are labeled Mary, Joseph, and Jesus =
the
son of Joseph. Does anyone know anything about this?
Steve