The holy grail, the fabled King Solomon’s Mines, and more recently, Noah’s Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, and many more have featured in fabulous tales of adventure and discovery.
Adolf Hitler was allegedly in possession of what he believed was the “holy lance,” the spear used by the centurion to pierce Christ’s side. This was only one of many relics der Führer obtained (or sought) to satisfy his obsession with the occult. Interestingly, several such “genuine” spears are owned by various collectors around the world.
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Not surprisingly, the cup Christ used at His Last Supper, dubbed the “holy grail,” is also simultaneously in the possession of several people at different locations. It has even had a movie based on it: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Then there are pieces of wood “from the actual cross of Christ.” In the fourth century, Helena, the Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. “There with a rapidity and assurance that can only strike wonder in the modern archaeologist, legend has it that she unearthed the True Cross, the lance, the crown of thorns, and identified, under a temple of Aphrodite, the tomb of Christ.”1
This cross became an object of pilgrimage, with pieces cut off as a token for the one who made a generous offering. Theologian John Calvin (1509-1564) wrote that, by his day, there were so many parts of the “true cross” around that “whereas the original cross could be carried by one man, it would take three hundred men to support the weight of the existing fragments of it.”2
Similar “amazing discoveries” are still announced today. Sometimes they are based on ignorance (or rejection) of Scripture. For example, it was recently claimed in a Time-Life documentary that the site of the Garden of Eden had been found—but see the box to the left.3
In the case of other recent “discoveries,” however, the would-be Indiana Joneses are very familiar with the Bible. Perhaps the most well-known are the claims of one Ron Wyatt, from Tennessee, heavily promoted also by a Jonathan Gray, from South Australia.
The Wyatt/Gray claims are truly astonishing (see Amazing claims). Unfortunately, reputable Bible-believing archaeologists and other experts willing and capable of giving an objective assessment are never able to check out the claimed artifacts. There is generally a plausible-sounding story as to why that is impossible, or why the time is not right. The alleged finding of the Ark of the Covenant (see also The Ark of the Covenant—could it even be found?) is associated with claims of supernatural intervention, photographs mysteriously getting fogged or vanishing, and “Men in Black” style government cover-ups.
Are the claims true? If they are, such a staggeringly impressive list would mean that Ron Wyatt had been almost as miraculously assisted by God as the patriarch Moses.4 If, however, a careful examination of just one or two of these claims reveals them to be false, fanciful or fraudulent, the “divine leading” option evaporates, and it is clear that Christians are being seriously misled.
The non-Ark site
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Back in 1992, Wyatt’s “Noah’s Ark” claim (see This is not the Ark of Noah) was subject to a thorough investigative exposé in this magazine (see online version).5 The 13-page report told of how this ministry had checked the claims, even ringing the lab staff that had done the analyses, for instance. Sadly, though we would have been delighted if this really were the Ark, we found almost all the specific claims to be untrue and/or misleading.
The results of detailed analysis of this site, including mapping, magnetometer surveys,6 drill-core sampling, and more, enable any geologist to be able to diagnose with certainty the exact nature of this geological object.7
The “discoverers” have since produced a rebuttal, convincing only to those who have misunderstood or not carefully read our article. They quote as support the well-known creationist scientist Dr John Baumgardner (right), but in fact he long ago decided that this “find” was a geological formation. They also appeal to the late marine engineer David Fasold. Fasold, who had repeatedly rejected biblical authority, did originally think it was a boat, but towards his life’s end co-authored an article in a geology journal supporting its true nature.8
When questioned about Baumgardner’s retraction, Wyatt has claimed that it was made for fear of losing his job. Yet Baumgardner has been known as a “full-on” creationist in his job and community for years, and had no difficulty agreeing to our publishing an interview with him in 1997. At that time, he told us that Wyatt’s claims about himself were as “bogus” as Wyatt’s claims about the “Ark site.”9
Sodom and Gomorrah?
Answers in Genesis did not attempt to involve itself in checking any of the other claims, but someone who had been with Wyatt to his “Sodom and Gomorrah” site10 sent us samples he had from there of the alleged ash from a couple of the “buildings,” and a sulfur ball.11 The photos show the structures at “Sodom and Gomorrah,” together with the labels put on them by Wyatt. Simple visual inspection of such photos (and watching videos put out by these “amazing discoverers”) strongly suggests that these “building ruins” are soft sedimentary structures with some lamination, carved into an array of shapes by rain and wind.
To put it mildly, the claim that such structures would form from incinerated buildings, then survive in the open for thousands of years, defies understanding of basic scientific principles (not to mention common sense).
Nevertheless, we sent the samples for chemical analysis to a reputable Australian laboratory.12 Their report was interpreted by a Ph.D. geochemist.13 The existence of the sulfur ball is not surprising—the entire area is rich in natural sulfur. The results from the “ash” (see chart below, right) were not consistent with what would be expected from incinerated ancient buildings, or rock ash of any sort. Instead, they clearly indicated an[evaporite] deposit ofgypsum-type minerals. This crumbly, easily eroded material fully explains the visual impressions, and is consistent with the known features of this area. The chemistry also shows an abundance of carbonates, which would be broken down by heat.14
Pharaoh’s chariots?
Some unsolicited evidence also came our way concerning the alleged chariot wheels of the Exodus (which have never been made available to any archaeologists, Bible-believing or otherwise). There is a Jonathan Gray video purporting to show these on the bottom of the Red Sea. In one part, Gray claims that a “British Admiralty chart” he is holding shows a “sand bridge” with great depths either side.
The hydrographic office of the UK Ministry of Defense is, by international agreement, the authority for charting the Red Sea. A Mrs M. H. sent them the video; they wrote back to her that:
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Gray’s chart could be positively identified on blowups as United States chart no. 62020.
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“Contrary to Mr Gray’s statement, the ‘sand bridge’ is not now, and never has been, a recognizable feature on British Admiralty Charts. Nor is it recognizable on the U.S. chart held by Mr Gray.”
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Gray’s comments about the “great depths” also mislead.
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The naturally lit video footage of the sea floor could not possibly have been filmed anywhere near the spot claimed by Gray, as insufficient light would penetrate at that depth.
Subsequently, Gray published a second letter from the same office, claiming it vindicated his claims of a “sand bridge.” However, when we checked with them, they wrote that their comments had been “seriously edited,” with “selected parts” shown under their letterhead. The full letter, which they sent us, “does not confirm the existence of a ‘sand bridge.””
In short, whenever we have had the opportunity to objectively assess any of these claims, the same pattern emerges as from our “Ark” investigation.
In Closing
There is little doubt that the genuine discovery of certain objects would be both exciting and a powerful witness to the truth of the biblical record. However, we need to be careful not to become like some medieval pilgrims, keen to have relics to supplement (or supplant) the worship of the living God. Christ actually taught that if people did not listen to “Moses and the prophets,” then neither would something as spectacular as someone rising from the dead convince them (Luke 16).
No doubt such fanciful claims as discussed here will always be with us, made by those seeking either profit, fame, the fulfillment of some deep psychological needs, or any combination of these. The “discoverers” will often appear completely sincere, saying all the “right Christian things.” Perhaps at some point they have even persuaded themselves.
The Bible does not say we should “believe all things,” but rather that we should “prove all things” ({% scripture “1 Thessalonians 5:21” %}). Neither does it encourage a gullible approach toward those claiming the name of Christ. Rather, it warns about wolves among the flock, and also teaches that the heart of man is deceitful and depraved (Jeremiah 17:9).
As in other areas, extraordinary claims carry an extraordinary burden of proof. There is already a huge amount of archaeological and other evidence consistent with the truth of the Bible. Bible-believing experts exist in many fields, such as the archaeologist author of our article on Jericho (The Walls of Jericho). They are always glad to assess and publicize actual evidence of genuine finds (there have been many over the years) supporting the historicity of the Bible.
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