I understand the story.

What I don't understand is how anyone can claim to 'authenticate' any ancient/old "holy" object. There is no record, no picture, no ingredients list, no (making) process description, no comparison studies (though you have tried to establish certain criteria for 'aging' of some materials and compounds), no proven examples!

We still a long way from 'reasonable guessing methods' especially when 'holiness' is also a question.;-)

This is truely a rich field -- one that can take many more lifetimes and lifes to settle. And no one really wants to be 'clear cut'.