Caiaphas ossuary

The Caiaphas Ossuary is a decorated stone bone box found in a burial cave in Jerusalem. It has an inscription connected to the Caiaphas priestly family, the family of the Jewish high priest during the late Second Temple period. Ossuaries were used after a body decomposed: the bones were collected and placed inside the box, which was a common Jewish burial custom at the time. This artifact is important because it gives physical evidence for one of the most powerful priestly families in Jerusalem during Roman rule. It also helps show the world of the Jewish priesthood, aristocracy, and Temple leadership shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70.