Strata: New Study Supports Authenticity of Yehoash Inscription

BAR has defended the authenticity of the James Ossuary inscription (“James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”)^a and the Ivory Pomegranate inscription (“(Belonging) to the Temple of [Yahwe]h; holy to the priests”).^b But we have taken no position regarding the Yehoash (or Jehoash) inscription, a lengthier text on a black stone plaque that records repairs to the Temple. The reason is that distinguished philologists and paleographers of ancient Hebrew have disagreed regarding the authenticity of the Yehoash inscription.^c

Now a team of scientists has weighed in on the Yehoash inscription. In a highly respected, peer-reviewed scientific journal, the Journal of Archaeological Science, the five authors state that “chemical, geologic and petrographic analyses support the antiquity of the patina [on the tablet], which in turn, strengthens the contention that the inscription is authentic.”¹