We need to contact the leading archaeologists, research institutes and
foundations specializing in early Christian sites outside of the
Mideast, and the same with specialization in LEGITMATE science
connected to Jesus' possible travels outside of Israel and Eygpt.  We
need world-famous people with credibility in the academic community. 
Also need contact with archaeologists, foundations, and research
institutes that might undertake LEGITIMATE and CREDIBLE research on
these topics.   Acceptance in the academic community is important for
all pahases of this question.

---

Request for Question Clarification by ozguru-ga on 11 Jul 2002 07:56 PDT

Dear Rohila,

Could you please clarify:

1. Do you want archaelogists from outside the mideast.
or 
2. Those specializing in sites that are outside the mideast.

Apologies for my confusion.

Regards,

Greetings!

Wow!  This has been an exciting topic to research!  

After an extensive search, I have located several contacts and
foundations that may be able to assist you with your project(s).
 
I have compiled a list of some of the leading archaeologists, research
institutes, and foundations specializing in Early Christian Sites
outside of the Middle East.

You may want to start by contacting Professor Martin Biddle, Professor
of Medieval Archaeology at Hertford College,  and his wife, the Danish
archaeologist, Birthe kjobye-Biddle, Research Director, Winchester
Research Unit.

Not only are they leading authorities in Biblical Archeology, (for
example, having spent over a decade studying the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre in Jerusalem), but they are also reknowned for their
research outside of the Middle East.  Their fields of expertise
include Anglo-Saxon and medieval archaeology and architectural
history; Tudor art and architecture.

You may email Professor Biddle here:
martinbiddle@hertford.ox.ac.uk

Professor Martin Biddle, credentials:
http://www.history.ox.ac.uk/staff/sublists/medieval.htm

Faith House Bookshop Online:
Biddle's data is distilled into a book, "The Tomb of Christ"
http://www.faithhouse.care4free.net/rec11.htm

Concerning your request for information regarding the travels of
Jesus, outside of Israel and Egypt, let's begin in Kashmir.

In the mid 19th century, some British Anthropologists concluded that
many of the Kashmiri tribes were remnants of the Lost Tribes of
Israel.  Many also beleive that Jesus, also known as Isa in Kasmir,
traveled to these parts and eventually died  and is buried in Kashmir.
 Controversy abounds concerning this theory, some say that the story
of Isa, is propaganda spewed forth by a group called Ahmadiyya
Mission. A Pakistani Muslim movement that is trying to discredit
Christianity.  However, despite the rhetoric of this group, many
believe there is undisputable proof that Jesus indeed visited this
land.

Isa (Jesus) and Kashmir:
Isa (Jesus) theories connected to Kasmir
by Nur Richard Gale
http://www.mm2000.nu/sphinxjj.html

After many hours of research, one name kept surfacing as the leading
authority regarding this theory, Professor Fida Hassnain.

The Professor is a retired Buddhist scholar from the University of
Srinagar, Director of Archaeology, and past head of the Kashmir
Library and Archives, and numerous other credentials.  After reading
many articles, it seems that the Professor has avoided much of the
previously mentioned controversy, and is regarded as the formost
expert on this subject.  He is the archaeologist you need to contact
regarding the travels of Jesus.  You may email him in care of
jammupress@yahoo.com

Professor Hassnain works closely with this website:
Background information and credentials for Professor Hassnain
http://www.tombofjesus.com/hassnain.htm

A Search for the Historical Jesus, book by Fida Hassnain:
Amazon.com Review
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0946551995/104-4214662-0619139

I am also listing some interesting information about the subject here:

Several documents featuring Isa, (Jesus):
http://www.tombofjesus.com/Conclusion.htm

But India is not the only place that Jesus supposedly visited, and I
am listing the links to several books regarding this subject and . 
Hopefully they can direct you to their sources of information if you
desire.

A Review of the World Literature (1899-1999):
http://www.tombofjesus.com/BookReviews.htm

The Jesus Conspiracy, by Holger Kersten and Elmar Gruber :
http://quanta-gaia.org/reviews/books/JesusConspiracy.html
Reach Holger Kerstan by email for more information on sources
holger.kersten@physik.uni-greifswald.de

Without giving any guarantees, here are several links to institutes
that may consider undertaking the requested research.  Of course, it
will depend on their response once you have approached them with the
project.

American Schools of Oriental Research:
They state their purpose is to enable properly qualified persons to
pursue Biblical and archaeological researches, and various other
studies.
http://www.asor.org/

Netherlands Institute for the Near East:
http://www.leidenuniv.nl/nino/nino.html

Oriental Institute, University of Chicago:
http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/default.html

And finally, I am listing a site that has many excellent sources for
Biblical Archaeology:
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~kmeyers/archaeol/bib_arch.html

It has been a pleasure to provide assistance regarding this question.
Thank you so much.

Madsky101


Search Terms:

"Holger Kersten"
"current archaeological research"+jesus
"archaeological evidence"+europe+jesus 
"archaeological foundations"+jesus 
"tomb of christ"+Martin biddle
"Gaalyah Cornfeld" 
"professor Martin Biddle"
"christian archaeology"+professor+sites
"christian archaeology"+professor
Fida Hassnain+archeology
"institutes"+"early christianity"+not in middle east
"jesus in rome"
"biblical scholars"+"lost years"

For what it's worth I have a relative who is well known as a leading
scholar in Biblical archaeology. I mentioned this question to him and
he writes "Apart from Egypt, there is no evidence that Jesus was ever
more than about 100 miles from his home. Lots of nice stories
developed about his being in India or elsewhere, but I don't think
there is a shred of evidence for such views."

He goes on to say that no legitimate university or research project is
involved in any research in this area. Hope this helps!

I don't know if the above references include the version of Jesus in
Britain, so here a few direct links.  I have not researched the
background of the authors and the material, but there do seem to be
enough details that a "credible" historian could verify the technical
details and the interpretation.

While it is certainly possible that Jesus did visit other countries,
the STRONGEST and MOST PERSISTENT traditions place a young Jesus in
CORNWALL and the ISLE OF AVALON near the little Somerset town of
Glastonbury in England!
http://www.hope-of-israel.org/i000111a.htm

Traditions of Glastonbury by E. Raymond Capt
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0934666105

Ding Dong Mine 
An ancient tin mine in Cornwall, one of the oldest in the county, in
the parish of Penwith. Popular tradition has it that Joseph of
Arimathea may have brough a young Jesus as a boy or young man here,
possibly to address the miners.
(A. H. Lewis Christ in Cornwall? from A Glastonbury Reader, pages
172-197 [page 173, page 176, page 184]).
http://www.gandolf.com/reference/glossary.shtml

http://asis.com/~stag/chrstbrt.html
http://www.intellectbooks.com/westcountry/pages/extract.htm