Jesus crucifixion nails found in Caiaphas' grave, claims archaeologist Simcha Jacobovici

Israeli archaeologist claims discovery of Jesus' crucifixion nails 

Israeli-Canadian archaeologist Simcha Jacobovici may have stumbled upon a major archaeological find if his claim of unearthing the nails used to hold Jesus on the cross during his crucifixion are to be believed.

Jacobovici maintains that small metal remains dug out of the soil in a cave in a Jerusalem neighborhood are in fact the nails that held Jesus on the cross, the Ha'aretz daily reported Tuesday.

The artifacts were found in a cave in the Armon Hanatziv ridge, about 6 km south of the Old City, during the course of a construction work in 1990. The hilly area now contains apartment buildings.

During the excavation of the cave, a stone vessel with the name Caiaphas, the name of the High Priest considered responsible for turning Jesus over to the Romans, and two rusty nails, which Jacobovici believes to be the relics, was unearthed.

However, officials from the Israeli Antiquities Authority told Xinhua although they regard Jacobovici as a great archaeologist and documentary filmmaker, they do not believe the cave really belongs to the High Priest of the Second Temple period (between 536 BC and 70 AD).

"The reason is that during that period of time there were a lot of people with the name Caiaphas," a statement from the Antiquities Authority said, "And for example, it is inconceivable that every gravestone bearing the name Moshe Dayan, which is very common in these parts, should be ascribed to the same personality who played so prominent a role in our recent history."

Dayan was an Israeli army general who led his troops to victory in the 1967 war.

The authority considers Jacobovici's contention as "fantasy" that should not be considered conclusive, since there is no agreed- upon evidence backing it up.

Jacobovici is standing his ground, however, and contends that during the Second Temple Period the name Caiaphas was uncommon, and therefore the tomb must belong to the infamous priest.

Jacobovici, a well-known documentary filmmaker, has produced films about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and human trafficking that earned him two Emmy Awards.

He also worked alongside film director James Cameron on the movie Jesus' Lost Tomb.

He expects to soon release a movie about the latest finds, entitled Nails on the Cross.