Posted on 02/23/2007 5:50:36 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
The cave in which Jesus Christ was buried has been found in Jerusalem, claim the makers of a new documentary film.
If it proves true, the discovery, which will be revealed at a press conference in New York Monday, could shake up the Christian world as one of the most significant archeological finds in history.
The coffins which, according to the filmmakers held the remains of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother Mary and Mary Magdalene will be displayed for the first time on Monday in New York.
Jointly produced by Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici and Oscar winning director James Cameron, the film tells the exciting and tortuous story of the archaeological discovery.
The story starts in 1980 in Jerusalem’s Talpiyot neighborhood, with the discovery of a 2,000 year old cave containing ten coffins. Six of the ten coffins were carved with inscriptions reading the names: Jesua son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Matthew, Jofa (Joseph, identified as Jesus’ brother), Judah son of Jesua (Jesus’ son - the filmmakers claim).
Decades of research
The findings in the cave, including the decipherment of the inscriptions, were first revealed about ten years ago by internationally renowned Israeli archeologist Professor Amos Kloner.
Since their discovery, the caskets were kept in the Israeli Antiquities Authority archive in Beit Shemesh, but now two have been sent to New York for their first public exhibition.
Although the cave was discovered nearly 30 years ago and the casket inscriptions decoded ten years ago, the filmmakers are the first to establish that the cave was in fact the burial site of Jesus and his family.
The film, which documents the stages of the discovery, is the result of three years labor and research. It will be broadcast on the international Discovery Channel, Britain's Channel 4, Canada’s Vision and Israel’s Channel 8, which also took part in the film's production.
According to the filmmakers, the film’s claim is based on close work with world-famous scientists, archeologists, statisticians, DNA specialists and antiquities experts.
I thought Dan Brown said they ended up in France. < /sarc>
"...filmmakers are the first to establish that the cave was in fact the burial site of Jesus and his family."
I feel a Geraldo moment coming on!!
Jesus' son?
Tracing paternal DNA should prove interesting.
Maybe we'll all end up Jewish again!
More laughable claims, with highly questionable "archeology".
Oh well, at least the cave's not on Mt. Ararat.
That is "The Naked Archaeologist".
I find his programs very interesting, but I remain skeptical of any so-called authentic coffins.
Obviously a different family. My Jesus was the Son of God, and he didn't stay in his burial cave more than 3 days...........
Just more of the periodic hype from publicists who think they can get some notoriety from these exaggerated (if not entirely baseless) claims.
Like the ossuary that supposedly had "so-and-so, son of Jesus" on it, that turned out to be a forgery.
He ain't there.
France, dark cave....whta's the difference?
Let's see. 2000 years ago the Roman and Jewish authorities that ruled the region wamted real hard to find the body but couldn't even though it was buried in a tomb with his entire family and with his name on the casket.
But now some archaeologist has done so. Better to trust the Bible than either the press or the academy.
Oh, and that he also had a family and he was just this regular guy...what's the big deal about Jesus? (Closing the Manifesto and putting it away)
What does this mean, are they trying to say our religion is a hoax??? This is the first I have heard of this one, scarey.
For some reason I thought they would talk about what was in the coffins.
Hooey. "Jesus' tomb" is remarkable not for what's in it but for what isn't in it.
Where did the DNA come from??????
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