Life and Land

by Gordon Franz

Introduction
In the latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Hershel Shanks addressed the fallout from the verdict in the “forgery case of the century” between the Israel Antiquities Authority and the antiquities dealer and owner of the James ossuary, Oded Golan (2012:26-33, 62, 64-65). The issue Shanks focused on was the authenticity of the inscription: “James the son of Joseph, the brother of Jesus.”

Is the Inscription Authentic?
In the article, Shanks asked the question and then gave his opinion: “Is the inscription authentic? The court held only that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the inscription was a forgery. But it surely did not find that the inscription was authentic. I have no doubt, however, that it is” (2012:26). One reason the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was because the witnesses disagreed whether all, part, or none of the inscription was authentic. Most of the witnesses believed that the words “brother of Jesus” was a modern-day forgery. Shanks, however, pointed out that one of the government witnesses, Orna Cohen, testified that there was original patina in the word “Jesus” (2012:31), but Shanks did not tell the whole story. Orna revealed more.

Interview with Orna Cohen
Four years ago, in July of 2008, Stephanie Hernandez and I interviewed Orna Cohen. Orna is a conservationist of antiquities who has made outstanding replicas of artifacts for museums and restored a number of buildings, including the monumental Late Bronze “ceremonial palace” at Hazor where we conducted the interview.

We covered a range of topics about Orna’s job and why it is important to conserve what has been excavated. Orna is one of the best in the field of archaeological conservation and restoration. One of the issues that we asked her about was forgeries on the antiquities market and could patina be faked. In her answer about patina being faked, Orna mentioned the James ossuary, which at that time was at the center of the forgery court case in Israel. Orna was one of the government witnesses in the trial and had the privilege of actually examining the James ossuary first hand. Here is what she had to say:

Gordon: “How easy is it to fake patina?”

Orna: “It is possible, but it is not easy to fake patina. You need the knowledge, but it has been done. There is research going on about it for historical buildings. For instance when you are renewing part of a building you want to repeat the patina, so there is research about these things. I had the pleasure of looking at and checking the James Ossuary and I gave my comments on it. I think the ossuary is authentic and a real one, but the inscription on it, I am convinced there are two hands that wrote the inscription. To my opinion, part of the inscription is faked, part is original. Of course, there are things that go on in trial now [This interview was conducted in July 2008]. They are still trying to figure out what is faked and by whom it was made. To my opinion, the name Joshua [on the ossuary] is real. The inscription reads: “Ya’acov bar Yosef achi Yehoshua.” [Translation: Jacob (or James), the son of Joseph, the brother of Jesus]. So the first part, I think is added. My professional opinion is almost against all the others that think the last name [on the inscription]; “brother of Jesus” (Joshua) is a fake. So my opinion was against the others [at the trial]. I checked and it’s according to the patina in the letters. There was a fake patina of just dirt that was put in these letters on purpose so I cleaned part of it and underneath there was the original, yellowish patina that based on my experience, was the original one. It was not on the first part of the inscription but it was on the last part of the inscription. That is what I gave as my opinion.” (Brackets […] added by interviewers for clarity).

Assuming Orna is correct, we still do not know who the second hand was that added the first part of the inscription “James the son of Joseph.” On cross-examination, Goren also admitted there was ancient patina in the word “Jesus” (2012:31) which confirmed Orna’s statement.

The Conclusion of the Matter
In my opinion, it is not “Case closed!” I do not think Shanks presented a strong case for the authenticity of the whole inscription and the jury is still out on its authenticity. Perhaps some day the second hand will reveal itself and we will know the identity of the person who added “James the son of Joseph.”

Transcript of the Interview
For the transcript of the whole interview conducted by Stephanie and I, you are invited to visit my website and read, “’It is the Best Job in the World!’: An Interview with Conservator Orna Cohen” (2008)

Bibliography

Shanks, Hershel

2012 “Brother of Jesus” Inscription is Authentic! Biblical Archaeology Review 38/4: 26-33, 62, 64-65.

by Gordon Franz

How Accurate and Reliable are Robert Cornuke’s Claims?

Introduction
Bob Cornuke has written seven books and produced several videos about his claims to have found the real Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia, the real mountains of Ararat in Iran and what he think might be the remains of Noah’s Ark, the Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia, the anchor stocks from Paul’s shipwreck on Malta, and promotes an inscriptional object that he claims has the name of the Lord, “Yahweh,” on it from Jebel al-Lawz where he locates Mount Sinai.

Professor Hoffmeier’s Assessment of Cornuke’s Work
When the respected evangelical Egyptologist Professor James Hoffmeier critiqued Cornuke’s “Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia” theory, he wrote in his Ancient Israel in Sinai (Oxford 2005:132-136) that Cornuke was an “amateur” and “dilettante” whose work “lacks academic credibility.” Hoffmeier then itemizes the “monumental blunders” that Cornuke and his colleagues have made that “trained archaeologists and biblical scholars would not make.” Hoffmeier ultimately concludes:

“I concur with Gordon Franz’s devastating critique of Cornuke’s theory and his conclusions that ‘Mt. Sinai should be located in the Sinai Peninsula right where the Bible places it, not in Saudi Arabia.’ ”

No Credible Evidence for Any of His Claims
I have followed the work and claims of Robert Cornuke and have examined them in detail and have come to the same conclusion with each “discovery.” He has produced no credible, historical, geographical, geological, archaeological, or Biblical evidence for any of his claims. What he presents as evidence has been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and in some cases manipulated by Cornuke and his associates.

His books and videos are in the public domain. Ideas presented to the public invite public review, comment, and critique. I have reviewed his books and videos and critiqued his ideas. I have not personally attacked Bob Cornuke, although I have produced some reviews that point out what I think are factually incorrect data and conclusions that I believe are also incorrect. This type of discourse is the nature of scholarship, but they are not personal attacks.

An Invitation to the Reader
I have written critiques of the ideas expressed in Mr. Cornuke’s books and videos, and one critique I collaborated with the two leading experts on the search for Noah’s Ark. I would invite any interested readers to explore these critiques for themselves. The readers will find that the articles have been carefully researched, reasoned, and fully documented, and will also find Cornuke’s research and conclusions are lacking in scholarly corroboration.

General Questions

Questions About Cornuke’s Ph. D.

Where are Bob Cornuke’s Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications?

Unposted Response to the Creationrevolution Website

Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia?

Mount Sinai is NOT at Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia Part 1

Mount Sinai is NOT at Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia Part 2

Mount Sinai is NOT at Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia Part 3

“Moses Stone”?

Yahweh Inscription Discovered at Mount Sinai!

Was an Archaelogical Forgery Mistakenly Portrayed as Authentic?

Noah’s Ark in Iran?

Mount Suleiman, King Solomon-and-Noahs-Ark

Did the BASE Institute Discover Noah’s Ark in Iran?

Critique of the video “A Search for Noah’s Ark”

Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta?

Does “The Lost Shipwreck of Paul” Hold Water?

Searching for Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta”: A Critique of the 700 Club’s February 26, 2010 Program

“The Lost Shipwreck of Paul”: A Critique of the Video

Mark Gatt’s Critique of The Lost Shipwreck of Paul Video

Bob Cornuke: The “CSI Investigator” of Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta

Why the Shipwreck of Paul Was Not on the Munxar Reef on Malta

Cornuke’s Computer Model of Paul’s Shipwreck On Malta

Why Were the Sailors Afraid of the Syrtis Sands (Acts 27:17)?

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia?

Was the Ark of the Covenant Taken to Ethiopia?

About the author

Gordon Franz is a Bible teacher who holds an MA in Biblical Studies from Columbia Biblical Seminary, SC.  Since 1978, he has engaged in extensive research in archaeology and has participated in a number of excavations in and around Jerusalem, including Ketef Hinnom and Ramat Rachel; as well as the excavations at Lachish, Jezreel, Hazor, and Tel Zayit.  He has taught the geography of the Bible and led field trips in Israel for the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies, the Institute of Holy Land Studies, and the IBEX program of Master’s College.  He also co-teaches the Talbot School of Theology’s Bible Lands Program.  Gordon is on the staff of the Associates for Biblical Research.