Israeli experts claim ossuary linked to Bible villain

Israeli experts say that a 2,000-year-old ossuary unearthed by tomb robbers belonged to the granddaughter of the biblical Jewish high priest Caiaphas.

A statement released by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Bar Ilan and Tel Aviv universities said the ossuary – a small stone chest that Jews used for secondary burial of bones – was originally dug up by thieves in the hills west of Jerusalem three years ago.

Researchers have been examining it to establish its authenticity and now confirm a link to the aristocratic family of the high priest who the New Testament says nudged the Roman governor Pontius Pilate into ordering the execution of Jesus.

“The ancient ossuary bears an Aramaic inscription from the time of the Second Temple: “Miriam Daughter of Yeshua Son of Caiaphas” the statement said. “The high priest Yehosef Bar Caiaphas, is especially famous for his involvement in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus,” it added.

The statement said Israeli authorities “acquired” the ossuary from robbers but did not elaborate on the circumstances. They said it was taken from a burial cave somewhere in the Elah Valley, west of Jerusalem.

“The Israel Antiquities Authority is distressed by the fact that this important find, which was plundered from its original provenance, was removed from its archeological context, thus it will never be possible to know the full story of the burial cave,” it said.

“Sadly, the robbers’ desire of monetary gain has erased entire pages of the country’s cultural history.”