Tales from the crypt

Researchers this week announced that antiquities thieves inadvertently made an important archaeological discovery at an undisclosed location. Three years ago, raiders looted an ancient Jewish tomb from the Second Temple period and unearthed a 2,000-year-old Gloskema (ossuary), which belonged to one of the great Cohen (priestly caste) families, the Caiaphas.

Results of an investigation by the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed that the ossuary is believed to have originated from a burial cave in the Valley of Elah, near Beit Shemesh, considered the Biblical site of David's battle with Goliath. The ancient ossuary bears Aramaic inscriptions: "Miriam Daughter of Yeshua Son of Caiaphas, Priests [of] Ma'aziah from Beth ’Imri’." An analysis of the writing suggests the tomb belonged to a female family member of the Caiaphas family. Gloskemas are small stone chests that were used by Jews for burial.