Unlike most bloggers and more than a few archeologists and Biblical scholars, the N^әtzâr•imꞋ  are perfectly satisfied whether the 1^st-century ossuary from the Talpiot Tomb Complex depicts "Jonah and the Fish" or a funerary amphora (or something else). Neither is a theological threat to, or need for, our theology, which remains valid either way. Our only priority is scientific and logical correctness.

On 2012.04.19, Eurekalert.org published news that Prof. James H. Charlesworth (Princeton Theological Seminary) has read יונה in the head of the fish (or near the base of the amphora – or something else, depending on what it eventually turns out to be), lending increased credence to the identification by Prof. historian James D. Tabor (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) asserting that the ossuary image is a Christian ιχθυς, mouth pointed downward, spitting out a stick-figure image of "Jonah" – whose head is enveloped in seaweed. This, of course, is being heralded as possible proof of Christian tradition in the 1^st century C.E. – before 135 C.E. In the aforementioned EurekAlert, Prof. Charlesworth finds the Hebrew letters יונה in the "stick-figure" of "Jonah."

Dr. Robert Raymond Cargill, Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Iowa and others are also skeptical (vide Cargill) of the fish identification (and, therefore, any association with Yon•âhꞋ  or Christianity).

I continue to support Prof. Tabor's identification of the Talpiot Tomb Complex as that of the family of RibꞋ i Y^әho•shuꞋ a. But every ιχθυς figure I can find is horizontal, or perhaps pointed upward. I've found no precedent for a ιχθυς figure pointed straight down. And a ball of seaweed, or whatever it is, is Jonah's head? I find the "seaweed covered stick-figure of Jonah" w-a-a-a-y too far a stretch.

Even beyond that, Yon•âhꞋ  and the "fish" was around in Tor•âhꞋ  teaching seven centuries before RibꞋ i Y^әho•shuꞋ a was even born! And it could not have been a Christian in BCE 700!

Beyond that, even if Prof. Charlesworth's reading of the name יונה can be maintained, while it would establish a very likely connection with the early N^әtzâr•imꞋ  – buttressed by its find in the Talpiot Tomb Complex, [1] the birth of Christianity didn't occur until a century later (after 135 CE, vide Eusebius IV.v.3) and [2] the earliest connection of Christian association with ιχθυς is, at the extreme earliest, late second century C.E. and, more likely, third century C.E.

Bloggers who become abusive toward any of these scholars betray their own bias and agenda. All of these scholars are trying to understand the images on the ossuary and get a handle on what they mean. Disagreement is part of scholarship – as long as a respectful aplomb is maintained toward scholars trying to make a reasonable argument. In this spirit, I disagree with Profs Charlesworth and Tabor. I see how the Hebrew letters can be interpreted. But I liken this to clouds that look like horses, the "face" on Mars, religious faces in the grain of natural wood, etc. The brain has a strong urge to see a pattern – even where it isn't warranted.

Conclusions

The image far more resembles a funerary amphora, and a funerary amphora is far more appropriate and to be expected on an ossuary. By contrast, there is neither precedent nor corroborative support either for a 1^st century ιχθυς or for a downward pointing ιχθυς.

Even if it was a "Jonah fish," Yon•âhꞋ  ha-Nâ•viꞋ  was, since ca. BCE 700, a purely Judaic, non-Christian, symbol for 8-9 centuries before the birth of Christianity. So, even if it were a downward pointing fish, it doesn't fit with any other "Jonah fish." And even if it were a "Jonah fish," that does not imply a Christian motif – N^әtzâr•imꞋ  perhaps, but not Christian. The attempt to associate the ossuary image with early Christianity is, for all intents and purposes, impossible – despite wishful Christian thinking blended with media hype.

Think! An Alabaster Cruse from the Talpiot Tomb Complex

You're reading my original interpretation here first. The most viable indications are that it is a funerary unguentarium amphora – more specifically a certain alabaster cruse. What would this symbol be doing on an ossuary associated with the family of RibꞋ i Y^әho•shuꞋ a (the Talpiot Tomb complex)? Just forming that question properly likely turns on the light for many. See The Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu (NHM) 26.6ff.