The controversial discovery of Jesus’ brother’s bones that surprised Jase Robertson

July 19, 2026

Jace Robertson’s Treasure Hunting Passion

When he’s not busy with his podcast “Unshamed,” duck hunting, or spending time with his family, Jace Robertson enjoys exploring his property using a metal detector. His fascination with treasure hunting sparked years ago, thanks to a family friend fighting cancer who introduced him to the hobby. Over time, Jace’s enthusiasm for metal detecting helped lead to the creation of the Fox Nation series “Duck Family Treasure.”

Recently, he has become intrigued by the tales of lost Biblical treasures that many might have overlooked. In a recent episode of “Unshamed,” he delved into a captivating and enigmatic story surrounding Oded Golan and the James Ossuary.

Golan, an Israeli collector of antiquities, bought a bone box for a small sum from a dealer in Jerusalem during the mid-1970s. The inscription on the box, written in Aramaic, reads: “Jacob son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.”

Jace notes that if this discovery were authenticated, it could provide critical evidence as referenced in the Bible.

For a long time, Golan, who identifies as a secular Jew, didn’t think much of the box or what it signified. However, in 2001, when he showed it to French epigrapher André Lemaire, Lemaire instantly recognized its potential importance.

Lemaire’s analysis, published in the Biblical Archeology Review, propelled the ossuary into the spotlight. It was briefly showcased at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, creating a worldwide sensation as the first archaeological artifact possibly connected to Jesus.

“This has been an eight-year trial,” Jace remarks.

The Israel Antiquities Authority gathered experts to examine the inscription, ultimately deciding it was modern counterfeiting based on patina analysis and other discrepancies.

“I’m a treasure hunter, and I know a fair bit. All of the patina appeared genuine except for the ‘Brother of Jesus’ part,” Jace explains.

Still, he finds himself questioning their conclusions. “[The box] had a lot of patina, but you can’t fake patina… Any treasure hunter could tell you that,” he states.

The conclusion that the “Brother of Jesus” inscription was a forgery led to a police raid at Golan’s home, sparking dramatic claims of a sophisticated forgery operation, and resulting in headlines labeling it the “Brother of Jesus: The fabricated trial of the century.”

After years of tense court battles, Golan was acquitted of forgery in 2012, though he received a conviction for minor trafficking offenses. Notably, the ruling did not confirm the authenticity of the inscription.

“They couldn’t definitively prove it wasn’t real,” Jace notes.

The ossuary was eventually returned to Golan, now one of the most debated artifacts in Biblical archaeology, with opinions split on its legitimacy.

Jace questions whether the authorities’ willingness to dismiss the inscription is related to the Jewish perspective of Jesus as not being God.

“In their view, they’re likely saying, ‘Jesus is not the Son of God. Here’s someone offering evidence,'” he observes.

In conclusion, Jace suggests that it may not really matter if the box contained the actual bones of James, Jesus’s brother.

He believes there’s “pretty strong evidence” for its authenticity but argues that attempting to prove it might just be the wrong approach.

“I truly feel that we serve God through faith. If you’re trying to prove that God exists, I don’t think that aligns with the way God intended it to be,” he reflects.

If you’re curious to learn more, check out the episode above.