The Shroud of Turin Story - Facts of Science and History

For the latest information, much of it news in 2004, visit Shroud of Turin Facts or return to Pictures of Jesus at the home page for this site.

For and up-to-date perspective on the Shroud of Turin read:

Where Have All the Skeptics Gone:
The Shroud of Turin for Journalist

Though written for journalists, this essay is for everyone: those who are skeptical, those who think the Shroud of Turin is real, and those who just want to know more about it.

The Shroud of Turin shown in negative (left) and in positive (right). The in positive image was first discovered when the Shroud was photographed in1898.

The Shroud of Turin is about fourteen feet long and 3 1/2 feet wide. It is ancient linen with a unique 3 over 1 herringbone pattern.

The Shroud of Turin

It is a piece of ancient linen cloth that is kept at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Turin, Italy. Most people are more familiar with the facial image shown to the right.

It has distinct front and back full body images of a man. The placement of the images suggest that the man was placed on the cloth with his feet near the end and that the cloth was brought over him at his head and pulled down and over his feet.
Careful examination of the image of the man reveals scourge marks over the back and chest, several facial injuries, and severe puncture-like injuries on the wrists, feet and one side.
Over the eyes are images of two round objects. Some researchers believe they may be coins.
Images of flowers, identified with plants from the environs of Jerusalem and Judea, have been detected surrounding the head and parts of the body.
On and around the image of the man there are blood stains at or near points of injury to the wrists and feet and at one side of the chest. There are numerous smaller blood stains, particularly around the top of the head.
Pollen specific to the area near Jerusalem and the Turkish steppes, have been found on the cloth.
Dirt has been found on the Shroud at the man's feet, on his knees, and on the tip of his nose. Dirt from the area of the feet is chemically consistent with the calcium carbonate soil of the Jerusalem area.
The image is caused by a chemical dehydration and oxidation of the topmost part of the fibers of the fabric. It is described as being like a scorch but without the chemical characteristics of a scorch. Scientists do not know how the image was formed. Artistic and photographic methods are generally ruled out as well as most mechanisms by which the image could have been created naturally.

Many believe that the Shroud of Turin is the actual burial cloth of Jesus. Numerous scholars including scientists, forensic pathologists, image specialists, historians and archeologists believe that is genuine burial cloth of a man crucified by Romans during the first century. Biblical accounts of the crucifixion suggest that it is the burial cloth of Jesus.

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