Experts are casting doubt on the authenticity of a stone box believed to be the earliest historical link to the family of Jesus of Nazareth.

The limestone burial box is alleged to have contained the bones of Jesus' brother, James. But a panel of experts says it has determined the box is a fake.

One of hundreds of similar boxes snatched from burial caves in the slopes near Jerusalem's Old City, the sensational artifact has had Christian scholars buzzing since its existence was made public. The box bears the inscription, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." It is believed to be among the earliest, non-biblical references to the man at the centre of modern Christianity.

When its discovery was announced by the U.S.-based Biblical Archaeology Review, the James Ossuary immediately sparked passionate debate, with some arguing it could have held the remains of Christ's brother, and others suspecting the inscriptions were forged.

Skeptics pointed out that ossuaries are among the most common artifacts to have survived from the biblical period. Several thousand have been uncovered in Jerusalem -- about a quarter of them with inscriptions.

Skeptics also noted that James, Joseph and Jesus were common names in the 1st century. One expert has estimated that in biblical-era Jerusalem, which had a population of about 80,000, about 20 men named James would have had a father named Joseph and a brother named Jesus.

Israeli archaeologists suggested the truth about the ossuary's history would remain a mystery, shrouded in the world of grave robbers, unscrupulous dealers and law-breaking collectors who dominate the Holy Land's antiquities market.

On Monday, Jerusalem TV news reported that Israeli police uncovered possible forgery tools in a warehouse belonging to the man who owns the box, renewing speculation the ossuary may yet be declared a fake.

The Israeli owner, Oded Golan, has been the subject of intense scrutiny from Israeli antiquities experts who have been working to trace the box's path from its owner to the cave where it was entombed in the first century.

According to Israeli investigators, Golan said he bought the box about 30 years ago from an Old City dealer whose name he couldn't recall. Golan said he only became aware of the possible importance of the inscription recently.

At the time, Israeli government scientists granted an export permit to Golan -- deeming the box an actual ancient artifact that showed no signs of tampering.

The James Ossuary was subsequently shipped to Toronto for display in the Royal Ontario Museum from November 2002 to January 2003. It suffered considerable damage in transport.

A full report on the ossuary is due next week.