What? Surely not. I mean, they are supposed to be the new Shroud of Turin, wherein an ancient artifact is meant to restored faith or something back to Christianity because it provides proof of the Christian origins.
I submit to you, three recent postings by the Jordan Codices page, which leads me to believe that they are building a case to state that they have either been duped, that they have had to return the codices to Jordan, or that they will hold them until all doubts of forgery and ownership are settled.
First, this latest, which is a book review on forgeries in the Middle East:
In 2002, an ancient limestone box called the James Ossuary was trumpeted on the world’s front pages as the first material evidence of the existence of Jesus Christ. Today it is exhibit number one in a forgery trial involving millions of dollars worth of high-end, Biblical era relics, some of which literally re-wrote Near Eastern history and which could lead to the incarceration of some very wealthy men and embarrass major international institutions, including the British Museum and Sotheby’s.
Set in Israel, with its 30,000 archaeological digs crammed with biblical-era artifacts, and full of colorful characters—scholars, evangelicals, detectives, and millionaire collectors—Unholy Business tells the incredibly story of what the Israeli authorities have called “the fraud of the century.” It takes readers into the murky world of Holy Land relic dealing, from the back alleys of Jerusalem’s Old City to New York’s Fifth Avenue, and reveals biblical archaeology as it is pulled apart by religious believers on one side and scientists on the other.
Then there is this one in which Israel has returned many ancient artifacts back to Jordan:
The Department of Antiquities has recovered from Israel hundreds of clay artefacts after 44 years, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The agency quoted acting Director General of the General Antiquities Department Fares Hmoud as saying Monday that the 620 artefacts, which date back to the early Bronze Age, were in Jordan in the 1960s before they were lent to an American archaeologist.
They had been discovered in an area in southern Jordan Valley, Hmoud said.
After that the items were taken to the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem for examination, but the 1967 war prevented their return to the Kingdom after Israel occupied East Jerusalem, which was then under Jordanian rule.
The artefacts were not the only outstanding archaeological issue between Jordan and Israel. A major one has to do with the Dead Sea Scrolls.
And finally, this one which is a letter from an attorney about legal ownership:
The below email is from one of the leading law firms in London confirming ownership of the Jordan Codices by the Kingdom of Jordan. This law firm has offices in Jordan, which have offered these articles. Furthermore the IAA (Israeli Antiquities Associates) has confirmed verbally and in writing that these items were smuggled across the border from Jordan to Israel and that therefore they are Jordanian. We have posted this as a result of potential confusion that has arisen between certain parties.
They are suggesting a few things to a comment to that last one:
Unfortunately there is no new spirit moving this Bedouin. He was offered compensation and immunity, but has steadfastly refused and has blown hot and cold on their authenticity and provenance in an attempt to confuse people. A few years ago he was caught smuggling some of the codices at the Allenby border crossing, which were confiscated by the Jordanian border guards. In view of the international legal situation, we do hope the Israeli government will do the honourable thing and repatriate these artefacts as soon as possible – the world will be expecting this. You will note from the posting above, they have just repatriated – 44 years later – artefacts belonging to Jordan from the Dead Sea Scroll collection. Regarding the James Ossuary situation, most interesting indeed. The verdict was due last December, strange how it has been delayed and delayed. You will surely enjoy a book by Nina Burleigh entitled Unholy Business: a true tale of faith, greed and forgery in the Holy Land – it is quite enlightening and thoroughly gripping. Book review posted in notes.
So, what do I suggest? I believe that the Elkingtons are going to back-out of giving evidence, while giving themselves the chance to play the victim, either of Jordan, Israel, or the others who are questioning the ‘artifacts.’
Joel Landon Watts is a Masters of Theological Studies student with a focus in Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific ideals of the past century. Currently, he is a TA for Old Testament at United Theological Seminary under Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Professor of Old Testament. His first book, Rhetorical Strategies of the Evangelist: Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark, is expected to be published by Wipf and Stock early next year. He is currently co-editing a book on moving from Fear to Faith (Energion, 2013).
I predict that just before Easter 2012 their book will appear, “shaking Christianity to its very foundations” blah blah blah.
yup. yup. and yup