The world's sole physical link to the liturgy of Jerusalem's famed Temple of Solomon turns out to be a forgery, Ha'aretz newspaper has reported.

On display in the Israel Museum, the "ivory pomegranate" comes from a much earlier period than King Solomon's era, which was some 3,000 years ago, the newspaper said.

The discovery that the object is a fraud stemmed from the use of newly developed techniques as part of a major investigation by the police and the Israel antiquities authority into several antiquities forging rings that have been active in Israel recently.

The probe was sparked by two prominent discoveries in 2002 that later proved to be fakes: the Jehoash inscription and the "Jacob, brother of Jesus" ossuary.

The Israel Museum purchased the ivory pomegranate for $600,000 in 1988, believing it to be an object used in priestly rites in the First Temple.