Ah yes; life's just not the same without the the oh-so-knowing observations of some apparently omniscient tourist who 'knows what it's all about', having seen a 'souvenir splinter.' Get done did you Leon? What do you know? Let the guy get on with his research - at least it could be something interesting!

Peter, London, UK

Herod,The great Jewish King [He ruled the country of Judea,so the term Jew is thus essentially a nationality not a religion like its is today and its root word is thus the country Judea] Herod the Great was far and away the most powerful of the Jewish Kings and brought great wealth to his country although he was totally hated by his countrymen
[Dead proof that money cannot by love] He was hated because ideologically he sided with Rome and murdered the prevoius ,much beloved ruling house of Judea,the Hasmoneans.[who had sided with Romes enimies,the Persians[
This included his own Hasmonean wife and his Hasmonean children who were next in line to his throne.
At the 1st available opportunity [66ad the revolt against Rome] his tomb would have been totally obliterated by the Judeans as a huge symbol of their revolt. It is these fragments that Netzer has now found.

Leslie Udwin, Johannesburg, South Africa

It would be in the PA's best interest to promote investigation into this find, after all, Herod was an Idumean occupying the west bank - nothing new there then.

k brennan, cheshire, uk

Supposition.
Without forensic proof - or at least
the name King Herod somewhere close by - forget it, could be 35 years wasted.

I suppose the archeologist is determined to be remembered for something.

Many years ago while a tourist in the Middle East - Hawkers would try and sell necklaces with wooded splinters - said to be from the Crucifix of Jesus. Fanciful too - less research though.

Probably the Tourism Bureau of Israel would support the findings.

Leon, Australia, Perth

Manuel
You need to remember that there was more than one Herod. Herod was a family name. Presumably the author is talking about Herod the Great who did die around 4BC & was believed to have ordered the deaths of young children. There was his son Herod Antipas, his son Herod Agrippa 1 and then there was Herod Agrippa 2 ... It was Herod Antipas who was ruling when Jesus was an adult as stated in your Bible.

JohnB, Sheffield, UK

if the sarcophagus was destroyed 70 years after his death 4 bc so it was 66 bc so he never went after Jjesus ,and jesus who was a jew never said he came make a new religion but to ad forgiveness and money exchangers out of temple .

manuel Rodriguez, saint cloud, fl.

Good News! We can only hope the palestinian authority will not stop or deprive the World of another great figure in history due to political games.

David, Garland, TX