1	The Authenticity of the Joash Inscription An Alternative Interpretation
2	Introduction
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4	Outline of the GSI report and the main results Nine samples of the patina and three samples of the rock, were examined using stereoscopic microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The patina samples are composed of Si, O, Ca, Al, Mg, K and Fe. They contain angular carbon particles and an anomalous amount of globules of pure gold, each about 1 µm in size. The patina is enriched relatively to the rock by about 12% Fe₂O₃ and 4% CaO, and diluted in K and Al. No evidence was found that could indicate the addition, adhesion or dispersion of artificial patina (or natural patina from a different stone) to the plate or the letters. The rock is black, fine-textured, well-bedded arkosic sandstone comprised mainly of silt-sized minerals with the addition of some quartz grains up to 0.5 mm in size. It was identified as originating from the Cambrian Shehoret Formation of southern Israel and Sinai, or its equivalent beds east of the Dead Sea and the eastern Arabah Valley. The carbon particles from within the patina were subjected for AMS radiocarbon age determination. The conventional radiocarbon age was 2250±40 BP (2-Sigma calibrated result: 390-200 BCE).
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6	Step 1: rock selection
7	Step 2: carving
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9	Step 3: “aging” the inscribed surface
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11	Step 4: creating the patina
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13	Step 5: adding “the Temple gold”
14	Step 6: Making it datable
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16	Step 7: sealing “the time capsule”
17	Step 8: hardening the patina
18	Step 9: brushing and cleaning
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20	Step 10: ordering a scientific examination
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