Ancient Burial Box's Owner Emerges with Reluctance

Written by Erin Curry

TEL AVIV, Israel (BP) — After insisting that his identity not be released to the public, the owner of the ancient limestone box believed to have once held the bones of James, the brother of Jesus, has reluctantly emerged to tell his story.

Oded Golan has been criticized for packing the artifact only in bubble wrap and cardboard for its shipment from Tel Aviv to Canada, where it is to be displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum. During shipping, the box suffered serious cracks on three of four sides, officials reported November 1. A deep, diagonal crack through the inscription now cleaves the word "Jesus" in two, according to Toronto's National Post.

Golan says he personally supervised the packing of the bone box "by one of the most reputable shippers of highly valued artifacts in Israel" as it was wrapped "in at least 10 layers of bubble wrap," he told Toronto's Globe and Mail.

"There was some sort of negligence here. I haven't seen it. I want to know what happened. But I believe there is a way to fix it," Golan said in response to the damage.

Golan, a 51 year-old unmarried engineer and entrepreneur, lives in a modest block of apartments in north Tel Aviv and works in an old, decrepit building in south Tel Aviv, according to Ha'aretz, a Jewish newspaper in Israel. He displays a stunning private collection of Holy Land antiquities in cupboards with glass doors in the guest room of his apartment, the newspaper reported. The now-famous box, however, was not included in the displays. The box was in storage for years because the owner did not recognize its significance.

Nothing in the inscription, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus," rang a bell, he said.

"For us Israelis, we have never studied the New Testament," Golan said in The Globe and Mail November 7. "They were Jewish names in my mind. The only thing I knew about Jesus' family was that Maria (Mary), his mother, was a virgin, and so even in my wildest imagination I never thought he had a brother."

According to Ha'aretz, Golan showed an interest in archeology from an early age. As young as 8, he would dig through archaeological sites near his home to find artifacts, including one that is regarded as one of the oldest dictionaries in the world. Golan claims he purchased the box that has caused a stir in the Christian world when he was just 16. Because he purchased the artifact 35 years ago, Golan says he cannot remember the specifics of the transaction, particularly from whom he bought it.

"A long time has passed. I was a young boy then," he said. "You don't expect me to remember from whom I purchased each of my items."

Critics say the cracks in the box now are not the only cracks associated with Golan. They say too many cracks in his story exist. According to Ha'aretz, Golan's insistence on preserving his anonymity and his reluctance to disclose information concerning the box send signals of suspicion. His failure to disclose the name of the antiques dealer who sold him the artifact undermines the value of the box, critics say. And researchers in Israel and abroad are casting doubt on its authenticity because its origin remains unknown.

Golan has insured the mysterious bone box for $1 million and has given permission for specialists at the Royal Ontario Museum to repair the box with special adhesives once the insurance company consents.

The owner now has also given permission for the bone chips discovered in the bottom of the box to be DNA tested.

"It might be possible to see if someone in the world today is related to James," he said.

The box will be on display at the museum's Mediterranean World Feature Exhibition Gallery from November 16 to December 29. Upon its return to Israel, Golan said he will not keep the box at his house for fear that people will "turn (his home) into a church."

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