Kyle Harper, Michael McCormick and their coauthors' article in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, published in 2020, applies stable isotope analysis to trace the marble of the Nazareth Inscription to a specific quarry on the Greek island of Kos, and argues on that basis that the inscribed edict most likely predates and is unrelated to Christian claims about the empty tomb of Jesus. Its strength is that it is a peer-reviewed scientific study applying a method, established for architectural marble and statuary, to an inscription for the first time. Its limit is that provenance evidence narrows but does not by itself settle every question about the inscription's original historical context, so a claim about its precise occasion should be read as this study's well-supported argument rather than final proof.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Harper, McCormick and coauthors' article in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, published in 2020, is a peer reviewed scientific study applying isotope analysis established for architectural marble to the inscription for the first time, treated at the top tier. NotesStable-isotope study tracing the marble to the upper quarry of Kos; argues the edict likely predates and is unrelated to Christian claims about Jesus' tomb.
Citation
AuthorKyle Harper, Michael McCormick, Matthew Hamilton, Chantal Peiffert, Raymond Michels, Michael Engel
PublisherJournal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Publication Year2020
URLhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102228
Source Typepeer-reviewed article
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Nazareth directly: "analysis to trace the marble of the Nazareth Inscription to a specific quarry on the Greek island of Kos, and argues on that basis that the inscribed edict most likely predates and is unrelated to..."
Claims Backed By This Source (21 claims)
This source backs 21 claims across the atlas. As facts: 15 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 3 holds. Plus 2 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Artifacts & Relics, 8 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 2 holds, 1 general references.
- Articles, 3 claims: 3 well-attested.
- Cities, 1 claims: 1 general references.
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