I have read a lot of misleading and incorrect information on various Web sites and in press reports regarding the mitDNA tests that were run on bone fragments from two of the ossuaries from the Talpiot tomb–the ones inscribed “Yeshua bar Yehosef,” and “Mariamenou (e) Mara.” There have been erroneous charges that the DNA tests were substandard or that they were not carried out properly. Such statements are completely without foundation.

The reason bone fragments from only these two ossuaries were tested is a simple one–the other four inscribed ossuaries had been cleaned/vacuumed and presently have no visible or significant materials that can be tested. There has been some discussion of whether they could still be swabbed for some possible results, but I think the chances of getting any kind of a good result with that method are very slight.

The tests were conducted at the Paelo-DNA Lab at Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada. The Paleo-DNA Laboratory is a world-renowned research laboratory in the application of modern molecular genetic techniques and technologies to the study of archaeological, degraded, and ancient DNA. This facility is one of the finest in existence with state-of-the-art equipment and a distinguished record of results worldwide in connection with many important archaeological sites. They specialize in obtaining either mitochondrial or nuclear DNA, or both, from extremely ancient and fragile biological specimens. These are materials that normal forensic DNA labs would not be able to process or examine. Special techniques have been developed and there exists now a possibility of even extracting nuclear DNA data from ancient bone samples. These more sophisticated tests have not yet been conducted on the Talpiot materials.

Part of the testing process involved a careful processing of the samples to insure there is no contamination. The tests themselves are run on marrow inside the bones that has never been exposed before the tests are conducted. The quality controls are rigid with multiple backup steps to insure accuracy. All the strange looking “space suits” are an indispensible part of a process of the decontamination of the staff before entering the testing area.

In the case of a sample of mixed bones from more than one individual the tests would yield multiple profiles. For example, several years ago mitDNA tests were done on mixed bone samples from the Akeldama “tomb of the Shroud,” first discovered by Israeli Boaz Zissu in 1998 when it was illegally robbed. The tomb was resealed only to be broken into again in the summer of 2000. This time most of the ossuaries had been broken and the bones scattered about. Even though the bones were in a state of total disarray we had accurate mitDNA profiles done yielding results for several dozen individuals who were then placed in familial relationships on a family tree. It turned out the tomb had two separate maternal clans with a number of verified sibling relationships.

Dr. Carney Matheson, Forensic Examiner and Scientific Officer at Lakehead University’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory and Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, analyzed the 2000-year-old bone samples from the two Talpiot ossuaries. The representative samples tested each belonged to a single individual, and the mitochondrial analysis showed conclusively that the two samples were not maternally related. Neither sample indicated the bones were from more than one individual.

“For this project, my role was to examine the residue including bone fragments from two ossuaries that were provided to the Laboratory, and determine if they were related,” Dr. Matheson says. “My focus was to ensure that the process was undertaken under the strictest forensic and ancient DNA procedures, which are a standard part of Lakehead University’s Paleo-DNA protocols. I expected that the results of the mitochondrial DNA analysis of the “tomb of Jesus” would spark widespread discussion and debate among theologians and historians, among others, and intellectual discourse is always good. As a scientist, I am mainly concerned with ensuring that the analysis used as a basis for discussion is beyond reproach. And the science behind the DNA analysis is solid.

“I have done similar work on numerous samples from many parts of the world to determine relation, disease, and other epidemiological issues. Our team at Lakehead’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory has done work on bog bodies, unidentified soldiers from WWI, mummies, and remains from the Titanic.”

Dr. Matheson studies biomolecules and the processes of their degradation. His primary research interest is in method development for recovery of macromolecules from biological material. His research emphasis has been on biological remains that have proved challenging from which to recover biomolecules using conventional methods. Design and development of methods to retrieve macromolecules of interest from degraded remains has applications in numerous fields, principally archaeology, forensic, and medical science.

The Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Laboratory is accredited in forensic human identification. This state-of-the-art facility is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and is affiliated with the Lakehead University Centre for Analytical Services (LUCAS). The Laboratory has been a pioneer in the application of modern molecular genetic techniques and technologies to the study of archaeological, degraded, and Paleo-DNA. The Laboratory serves three areas – research, services, and teaching.

Comments are closed.