In another twist on the ongoing court case between the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the collector Oded Golan, an FBI report introduced as evidence for the defense claims that an old black and white dating to the 1970s shows, under extreme magnification, the full text of the inscription. The report is significant because the IAA's indictment from June 2003 alleges that at least part of the inscription was intentionally added by Golan "recently".
New of the photo was reported in the newspaper Haaretz.
The inscription, "Yaakov the brother of Yeshua," which translates from the Aramaic as "James, brother of Jesus" was the cause of much scholarly and popular interest when it came to light in October 2002. The ossuary, or stone coffin, containing the inscription was subsequently exhibited at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto to record-breaking crowds.
Golan and three others on trial have steadfastly maintained their innocence. Many observers of the proceedings believe that the IAA is attempting to use the trial as a way to suppress or even eliminate the licensed trade of antiquities in Israel.