[Ancesthntr]

The fact that the lettering is '7th century' (BC) style (known from what?) is good, but what is lacking is any mention of carbon dating. Why is there no carbon dating?

I'm no scientist, let alone one expert in the area of carbon dating, but it seems to me that carbon dating is restricted to that which had some carbon in it to begin with. In other words, now dead tissue of formerly living things - organic matter. The Shroud of Turin is made of a material that was from a living thing, so it is able to be carbon dated. Not so with something made from silver, which is inorganic.

[kosta50]

Seems reasonable. I was referring to some kind of timed decay that could be established but maybe that is not possible. Nevertheless, the magnitude of this discovery historically and otherwise is disproportionate to its publicity. Why? Is it because the very people who discovered it are not absolutely sure?

[Moonman62]

I'm no scientist, let alone one expert in the area of carbon dating, but it seems to me that carbon dating is restricted to that which had some carbon in it to begin with. In other words, now dead tissue of formerly living things - organic matter.

I think you're right, but in such cases they can date organic material that is found with the non-organic artifact.