Scientists find evidence these are the exact nails that crucified Jesus—they have fragments of ancient bone and wood embedded in them!

According to a new study, the two rusted Roman-era iron nails appear to be from an ancient crucifixion.

Archeologists lost the nails while exploring the Jewish high priest's tomb, Caiaphas, who sent Jesus to the Romans for execution.

Where Did the Nails Originate?

Researchers found these nails in Jerusalem three decades ago—in a first-century burial cave believed to be Caiaphas' resting place.

At some point after the excavation, however, the nails mysteriously went missing.

Years later, filmmaker and journalist Simcha Jacobovici claimed to have found the nails in his controversial 2011 documentary, Nails Of The Cross.

At the time, some scholars slammed his conclusions, calling the find highly speculative.

However, shocking evidence has surfaced confirming these nails are indeed the same ones from Caiaphas' tomb.

Aryeh Shimron, a retired Jerusalem geologist, recently published a study in the Archaeological Discovery journal, giving weight to Jacobovici's documentary.

Shimron said:

"Within the rust and sediment attached to the nails, we have also identified and photographed a number of microscopic fragments of bone."

"I believe that the scientific evidence that the nails [crucified] somebody is indeed powerful."

Evidence Linking the Nails to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Shimron and his team concluded the study after comparing material from the nails with Caiaphas's tomb's ossuaries.

Ossuaries are limestone boxes that store bones of the dead.

What did their analysis find?

Shimron said:

"Our analysis clearly and unequivocally demonstrates that these materials are chemically and physically identical to those which have, over centuries, also become attached to the nails."

Out of the 25 tombs Shimron and his team tested, 'Caiaphas' cave was the only match for the nails.

He continued:

"We have also discovered fine slivers of wood accreted within the iron oxide rust of the nails."

"It is well preserved and entirely petrified. The wood is, therefore, ancient and not a chance or man-made fake attachment to the nails."

"Within the rust and sediment attached to the nails, we also identified and photographed a number of microscopic fragments of bone."

But Shimron Stops Short of Linking the Nails to Jesus Himself

He said:

"I certainly do not want to say that these nails are from the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth."

"But are they nails from a crucifixion? Very likely, yes."

The nails are long enough to have been used on a person's hands in a crucifixion.

They're also bent upward at the end, perhaps to prevent hands from pulling off the cross.