NEW DELHI: The Discovery Channel yesterday announced at a press conference in the US that the network will premiere a new program next spring, James, The Brother Of Jesus, that reveals possible archaeological evidence from the First Century, AD of Jesus' possible existence in Jerusalem.

The dramatic story of the unearthing in Israel of an ancient limestone ossuary, or bone box, upon which a startling inscription appears, will provide viewers with new information about the discovery of this historic relic as well as raise questions about Jesus' family life, according to a press release from Discovery.

Twenty Aramaic letters revealed to archeologists that the limestone box was a one-of-kind discovery. The extraordinary inscription, incised on one side of the ossuary, reads: "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus."

The Discovery Channel program will be based on the findings reported by the bimonthly magazine, Biblical Archaeology Review (November/December 2002 issue). The program will also feature scientific experts discussing the tests used to authenticate the relatively plain, 20-inch long limestone ossuary, boxes which were commonly used during that time to hold human bones.

In addition to the limestone analysis, the patina and shape of the lettering along with the soil remains in the box were examined extensively for authenticity by Dr André Lemaire, one of the world's leading epigraphers (specialists in ancient inscriptions), as well as separately by experts from the Geologic Survey of Israel and Johns Hopkins University.