International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, July 23, 2003

Two major archaeological discoveries linked to Jesus and the Jerusalem Temple have been found to be frauds and the antiquities dealer accused of forging them has been arrested.

Oded Golan is being investigated for fraud, forgery, using forged documents and perverting the course of justice. He was arrested Monday at his Tel Aviv home

The fake antiquities included the Jehoash inscription, a shoebox-sized tablet inscribed with Biblical-style Hebrew instructions on caring for the Jewish Temple, and an ossuary, or ancient burial box bearing the inscription, "James, brother of Jesus."

The ossuary with its supposed first-ever direct archaeological link to Jesus of Nazareth stirred a global sensation before being proved fake.

Police suspect Golan has sold millions of dollars worth of forged antiquities over the years to various museums and institutions abroad. Golan denies all allegations.

The Antiquities Authority last month declared both the Jehoash inscription and the James ossuary to be fakes. The authority said the 20-inch by 11-inch human bones vessel was indeed ancient, but the James inscription was not. Regarding the Jehoash stone, the body found that "the patina on the written side of the Jehoash inscription is made of bits of chalk that contain foraminifers, clay, coal and bits of gold all mixed together. In nature, a mixture such as this is a virtual impossibility."