Saturday, April 07, 2012

Scholars Aim to Bust Archaeological Fantasies


Peer review can take years—but academic society says some claims can be dismissed in a few blog posts.
Beware the Ides of March, and watch out around the middle of December as well. As Easter and Christmas approach each year, dramatic new discoveries and new theories are touted in books, magazines, and cable television shows.

This Easter season, Bible scholars are raising caution flags in a new organized effort. Their main target has been the highly promoted subject of a Discovery Channel documentary airing Thursday night.

On February 28, archaeologist James Tabor and documentary filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici held a news conference in New York to announce the discovery of a first century tomb in the East Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem—and the publication of a book suggesting a connection between the tomb and the family of Jesus. Reaction was swift. Read more

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