Shroud of Turin, a New Millenial View
Artifacts Icons and Relics
The Shroud of Turin, thought by millions to be the actual burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth, remains controversial. It was extensively investigated in the last quarter of the 20th century by a team of scientific investigators comprising some of the world's leading chemists, physicists, archeologists, botanists, pathologist, engineers, photographers and other scholars,(1). The STURP group, (Shroud of Turin Research Project), assembled these scientists in 1978, and at that time carried out, arguably, the most comprehensive research project on any relic known to man, in which NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Scandia Laboratory, the US Air Force, and the Los Alamos Laboratory among others participated. For an unprecedented 120 hours, the STURP group was allowed uninterupted access to the Shroud of Turin, at which time, hundreds of tests were performed, (2). The researchers were allowed to take samples back to their laboratories for further investigation. The results of this and other investigations after 1978 are summarized in this essay, including the controversial Carbon 14 dating which was performed in 1988.
The following briefly outlines the conclusions of the STURP group's investigations:
First, the Shroud is not:
l. A Painting
2. A Vapograph
3. An Imprint due to Body Heat or Funeral Anointing
4. A Block Print
5. A Scorch
6. A Bas Relief
Second, the Shroud demonstrates the following:
1. The Victim was a man
2. The Victim had severe unusual (>130) wounds
3. The Victim was crucified
4. The Victim died on the Cross
5. The Victim was scourged before crucifixion
6. The Victim sustained a right chest wound
7. The Victim sustained severe head wounds
8. The Victim sustained severe back wounds.
9. The Victim had both wrists pierced
10. Both Arms of the Victim were elevated while bleeding
11. The Victims legs were not broken
12. The Victims body did not decompose
13. The right shoulder was injured, perhaps broken
14. Human blood is present on the Shroud
15. Blood wounds have distinct serum clot retraction rings
16. The Victim was of average height and weight
17. The Victim had both feet pierced.
18. The Victim's blood type is AB
19. DNA of the Victim is severely degraded.
20. Serum immunoglobulins are present on the Shroud
21. Shroud body image is a negative
22. The image is superficial only
23. The image is directionless
24. The image is 3 dimensional
25. The image is formed along vertical paths only
26. Body and Blood images are distinctly different
27. Image on fibers is caused by oxidization of cellulose in the fibers
28. The blood stains are positive
29. Image forming mechanism acted through space
30. Blood stains blocked image forming mechanism
31. Blood stain on forehead is a 3 on the positive of the image negative
32. Shroud image remains stable even at high temperature
33. Shroud image is non water soluble
34. Shroud weave is a 3 to 1 twill Z stitch
35. Shroud man was burie according to ist. century Jewish customs
36. Limestone found on shroud is of the aragonite type, present in Jerusalem tombs
37. Pollen and Flower data suggest Jerusalem as the origin of the Shroud
38. Coin placed over right eye of Shroud man appears to be that of Pontius Pilate (lepton circa 29 AD)
39. Carbon 14 dating was done off protocol
40. Carbon 14 dating was done on a non-representative portion of Shroud
41. Carbon 14 dating likely accurate but contaminated, therefore useless
Given the above, and the scriptural description of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ contained in the 3 gospel accounts alone, it is certain that the Shroud of Turin is in fact the burial cloth of Jesus Christ beyond a reasonable doubt. In fact, it is 99.999+ % likely, given a fair, unbiased review of all of the data presently available as of 2002 AD. One only hopes that some careful further study of the Shroud will be sanctioned by the Vatican.
1. Antonacci, Mark. "The Resurrection of the Shroud": New Scientific, Medical and Archeological Evidence. New York, M. Evans Co. 2000, page 8.
2. Ibid. page 9.