TORONTO, Canada, November 8, 2002 — The mid-first century stone box known as 'the James Ossuary', will go on display at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), November 15 as originally planned.
The museum issued a news release November 7, saying the Ossuary's owner, Oded Golan of Tel Aviv, had approved a proposed treatment plan of the 2,000-year-old relic, after receiving a report from his insurance agent recommending conservation.
The announcement ends several days of suspense
The announcement came after several days of suspense for museum officials, while the artefact sat in a locked room in the museum's basement, awaiting an investigation by Golan's insurance company. While museum staff anticipated word on the next steps to be taken, controversy intensified in the media, with many sceptics coming forward to say more study was needed before claims about the artefact could be made.
Photo Courtesy of The Royal Ontario Museum
The Ossuary was shipped from Israel to Toronto, wrapped in bubble wrap and cardboard.
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The solid limestone burial box may be the oldest extra-Biblical proof of the existence of Christ. The pale brown artefact measures 51-by-28 centimetres and bears an Aramaic inscription that translates, "James son of Joseph, brother of Jesus". It is believed by some scholars to have contained the bones of James, leader in the early church and brother of Jesus Christ.
The relic was shipped to Toronto for a planned exhibition in the ROM's Mediterranean World Feature Exhibition Gallery, from November 16 to December 29. It arrived at the museum October 31 in an armoured truck, and was left in its packaging overnight so that it could acclimatize to its surroundings. When museum staff removed the packing materials the following morning, they were shocked at the way the artefact had been prepared for shipping - not double crated, as is the norm for such treasures; but in bubble wrap and cardboard. Golan had arranged packing and shipping.
'This sometimes happens'
Upon discovering the damaged state of the box, staff at the museum expressed dismay, but said while such damage is unusual, it is not unheard of. "This sometimes happens in the transportation of fragile objects, and is always regrettable," said Dan Rahimi, Director of Collections Management at the ROM.
Museum authorities immediately sent the owner a conservation plan detailing two possible options for repairing the ancient burial box. "We are confident that our conservation will be effective in redressing the cracks," said Mr. Rahimi at the time.
The treatment decided upon calls for the cracked pieces of the Ossuary to be joined using PVA (polyvinyl acetate) resin. The treatment is reversible and the resin can be removed in future using acetone as a solvent. Any voids will be filled with a mixture of resin and filler. Mineral pigment will be added to the filler so that the repair blends in with the colour of the Ossuary. However, the repairs will not be painted over or disguised.
The ROM exhibition coincides with a visit to Toronto by 8,000 international Bible scholars. The ROM will be the first institution in the world to display the artefact.
Source: Patricia L. Paddey, Bible Network News
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