Bible Archeology Discoveries

Caiaphas Ossuary
Discovered: Jerusalem
From: (c. AD 50-100)

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Caiaphas was the high priest who presided during the trial of Jesus, (Matthew 26, Luke 3, John 11). According to historian Josephus, his full name was "Joseph Caiaphas."

In 1990 a construction team was building a water park in Jerusalem accidentally opened a 1st century tomb that contained several "ossuaries," (bone box). The most ornate of the ossuaries was carved and inscribed with the name, "Joseph, son of Caiaphas." It contained the bony remains of several people including those of a sixty year old man.

In Israel during New Testament times it was the practice of the Jews to place a deceased person in a tomb and return a year later to collect the bones after decomposition had occurred. The bones would be placed in an ossuary, often used for several members of a family

"Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;"
Matthew 26:3

"And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together."
Matthew 26:57

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Notable Finds

Much of what is described in Bible text is lost to history, requiring readers to assume the historicity of the scriptures.

However, many of the places and events described in the Old and New Testaments are periodically corroborated by archeological finds.

Some finds simply help us to better understand things from the ancient world. However, others provide important evidence as to the truth of scripture regarding things about which there had previously been skepticism.

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