The Biblical Basis of the Theory
Matthew chapter twenty seven relates the account of an order being
given by Pontius Pilate to make the sepulchre of Jesus "sure" in
order that His disciples be prevented from stealing the body and saying:
"He is risen." "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure,
sealing the stone, and setting a watch."
Observations
In the account of Matthew twenty seven, there are two observations
which we believe to be worthy of notation, on which the theories of Ron
Wyatt and Wyatt Archaeological Research are based.
The first observation is that the rolling stone is described as a
"great stone."
The Greek word that was translated "great" is the word MEGAN
(from the word MEGAS) which based on its use in other scripture would
indicate that the stone was of notable size; perhaps unusually large.
Examples of the use of the word are as follows: Mark 4:41 feared
exceedingly, Luke 2:9 sore afraid, Acts 8:2 great lamentation, Acts 8:9
great one, Acts 11:28 great dearth, Hebrews 4:14 great high priest,
Hebrews 10:21 high priest, Hebrews 13:20 great shepherd, Revelation 12:12
great wrath, Revelation 14:19 great winepress.
The second observation is that every possible step was to be taken to
secure the tomb. The sepulchre was to be made "as sure as ye
can."
At the Garden Tomb, in Jerusalem, the remains of a metal pin can be
seen in the face of the sepulchre. It was the theory of Ron Wyatt of Wyatt
Archaeological Research that the metal pin was placed in that location, on
the orders of Pilate, to make the rolling stone secure. At the time of
this writing, no other example of pins being placed in the face of
sepulchres can be stated; therefore it is the ongoing theory of Wyatt
Archaeological Research that the placement of the pin in the face of the
Garden Tomb is unusual and worthy of investigation.
Over the years there has also been some discussion as to whether the
metal seen in the face of the sepulchre was of ancient, or modern origin;
some speculating that the metal was remains of shrapnel from a shot to the
wall rather than a pin placed there by design.
Israel Antiquities Authority permits issued to Wyatt Archaeological
Research
In an effort to determine the truth regarding the metal, a request was
made by Richard Rives, president of Wyatt Archaeological Research to the
Garden Tomb Association for permission to allow the analysis of the metal
in order to attempt to determine it’s origin based on elemental content.
It was theorized that a pin of ancient origin would consist of
predominately iron while metal of modern manufacture would be revealed as
an alloy or a combination of metallic elements.
The Board of Directors of the Garden Tomb association granted
permission for the analysis to be performed by Wyatt Archaeological
Research. A 1/16 inch hole was to be drilled in the pin and the shavings
from the drilling analyzed by way of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
Micrographs were to be generated revealing the elemental content of the
metal; copies of which were to be placed on record with the Garden Tomb
Association. A time was scheduled for the taking of the sample and for the
analysis to be done by Hebrew University department of earth sciences.
In preparation for the analysis and in compliance with the regulations
of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), Mr. Peter Wells of the Garden
Tomb Association contacted Mr. Jon Seligman, director of Antiquities for
Jerusalem. Mr. Seligman, after examining the metal, believed it to be of
ancient origin rather than modern. Due to that determination, it was
necessary for Wyatt Archaeological Research to obtain permission, not only
from the Garden Tomb Association, but also from the IAA.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem at the pre determined time and after meeting
with Mr. Jon Seligman, Richard Rives and Mary Nell Wyatt of Wyatt
Archaeological Research, were able to retain the services of Mr. Yehiel
Zelinger, an Israeli archaeologist approved of and recommended by the IAA,
to oversee the project. Permission was granted to Richard Rives and Wyatt
Archaeological Research for the taking of the sample and for the analysis
at Hebrew University.
Field Work
Click to Enlarge
On Monday October 14th, 2002 at 4:30 P.M. the sample was taken by
Richard Rives, president of Wyatt Archaeological Research, in the presence
of Mr. Peter Wells of the Garden Tomb Association, Mr. Yehiel Zelinger,
IAA approved archaeologist, and Mary Nell Wyatt, also of Wyatt
Archaeological Research.
A preliminary probing of the metal object, in order to determine where
the hole should be drilled, revealed a hard central core while the
surrounding metal was of a soft nature. A 1/16" hole was drilled in
the lower left center of the object which made it possible for both the
inner and outer metals to be sampled. A paper envelope which was
positioned to collect the shavings was then removed from the face of the
sepulchre and sealed.
Click to Enlarge
Analysis
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to Enlarge  Click
to Enlarge
On Tuesday, October 15th at 10:30 A.M. the sample was taken to Hebrew
University Institute of earth sciences at Givat Ram. The sample was then
opened and analyzed by Mr. Elad Izreali. Micrographs were generated,
revealing a central core of almost pure iron inside an outer sheath
consisting of almost pure lead.
 Click
to Enlarge Iron  Click
to Enlarge Lead
Based on the experience of Richard Rives, and the degree of difficulty
in drilling, it would seem that the iron may have been hardened in some
manner. History reveals that the Romans both "work hardened" and
"quench hardened" iron swords and other items. Both methods of
hardening can lead to the iron becoming brittle. The jagged surface of the
iron found in the face of the Garden Tomb may be an indication that it had
been hardened.
Analysis Review
Learning of the analysis, it was stated by both Mr. Yehiel Zelinger and
Mr. Jon Seligman that is was common in ancient times to set metal pins in
molten lead. One good example is the fact that tons of metal pins were set
in lead, in the construction of the Coliseum in Rome.
It is the theory of Wyatt Archaeological Research that both the
metallic content of the pin and its method of fixing suggest an ancient
origin, rather than a modern day manufacture and placement.
Chronological Placement
As to the dating of the manufacture and placement of the metal pin,
based on radiometric analysis: It is the opinion of Wyatt Archaeological
Research that radiometric dating procedures are based on many assumptions,
are very inaccurate and are not appropriate in the dating of the metal
pin. Due to this fact and the fact that securing iron pins in lead cannot
be isolated to any one time period, we believe that the manufacture and
placement of the pin, as may be determined by radiometric dating, will
remain subject to debate.
Research supports the Wyatt Archaeological
Research theory
Based on the above stated research, it remains the theory of Wyatt
Archaeological Research that the "great stone" of the Garden
Tomb was made sure by placing a metal pin adjacent to its rolling surface
to prevent it from being rolled back. It is also the theory of Wyatt
Archaeological Research that when the "Angel of the Lord...descended
from heaven...and rolled back the stone from the door" that the
brittle metal pin, hardened by ancient means, was sheared off leaving the
jagged surface that can be seen today. It is also theorized by Wyatt
Archaeological Research that the placement of the pin would indicate that
a truly "great stone," of unusual size, was used to seal the
entrance to the Garden Tomb.
Israel
Antiquities Authority Report (Click Here)
Consideration
For those who disagree with the theory of Ron Wyatt, the question
remains: If the pin was not placed in the face of the tomb in order to
secure the rolling stone, what was its purpose?
Wyatt Archaeological Research
Copyright
Richard Rives and Wyatt Archaeological Research 2003
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