New scientific data now dates the Holy Shroud in Turin to the time of Jesus, supporting the hypothesis that it may be genuine.
Specifically, Italian researchers utilized a new technique involving X-rays to date the Shroud’s material, confirming that it originates from the time of Jesus, approximately 2,000 years ago.
A few days after this research revealed that the Shroud of Turin dates back to the time of Jesus Christ, an image of the figure depicted on it was created using Artificial Intelligence.
See the Image:
Amazing AI-generated image of Jesus Christ based on the (authentic) Shroud of Turin.
— Eric Sammons (@EricRSammons) August 21, 2024
It’s a good reminder of the fact that God became a particular man at a particular moment in history. This is no myth.
We worship the God who became one of us! pic.twitter.com/hb0AjKgpix
Recent research suggests the Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, might be authentic after all.#turinshroud pic.twitter.com/0XlsXR8NHg
— CGTN Europe Breaking News (@CGTNEuropebreak) August 21, 2024
What We Know About the Holy Shroud
The Shroud of Turin, or Holy Shroud, is a piece of linen fabric bearing the image of a bearded man, believed to match the body of someone who was crucified and injured.
It has been a source of controversy between religious and scientific communities for many years, with some claiming it is the burial cloth in which Jesus Christ’s body was placed after his crucifixion, while other scientific studies suggest it is a human-made artifact.
The Shroud is a yellowish linen cloth measuring 4.3 meters in length and 1.1 meters in width, kept since 1578 in the Cathedral of Turin. Its weave is herringbone, made from flax fibers, materials that were used during the time of Jesus Christ. Until recently, scientists dated it to the Medieval period.
Is this the image of Jesus of Nazareth?
— Culture Critic (@Culture_Crit) August 21, 2024
New X-ray analysis just revealed the Shroud of Turin, Christ's alleged burial cloth, to be 2,000 years old.
So here's what we know — and why it might just be real… (thread) 🧵 pic.twitter.com/MGgG2pDGIK
In 1988, an international team of researchers analyzed a small section of the Shroud using carbon dating, which suggested that the shroud was likely created sometime between 1260 and 1390 AD. This analysis was conducted in three different laboratories, concluding that the linen was woven during the Middle Ages.
However, recent studies by Italian scientists consider that the conditions under which the fabric was preserved may have affected the reliability of carbon dating results.
Specifically, Italian researchers used a new X-ray technique to date the material, concluding that it was indeed made during the time when Jesus lived, approximately 2,000 years ago.
For this new study, scientists from the Italian Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council used wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). This technique estimates the production date by analyzing the physical effects of time on the linen’s cellulose.
Scientists have been able to determine the age of the Shroud of Turin – the supposed burial cloth of Jesus Christ – Daily Mail
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 22, 2024
According to their findings, the linen cloth was made in the Middle East about 2,000 years ago, which coincides with the period of Jesus' life.
The… pic.twitter.com/jhvYyNO6Wr
The team examined six small samples from the Shroud of Turin with X-rays to uncover minute details of the linen’s structure and cellulose patterns. Cellulose consists of long sequences of glucose molecules that break down over time, revealing the age of a garment.
To date the Shroud, the team considered certain aging parameters, including temperature and humidity, which cause significant cellulose breakdown.
Additionally, the team compared the shroud with samples from other linens woven between 1260 and 1390 AD, finding no similarities.
The study’s lead author, Liberato De Caro, explained that the 1988 study should be considered erroneous because “as a rule, samples from fabrics are subject to all forms of contamination, which is impossible to remove completely from the dated sample.” He notes, “Without meticulous cleaning of the sample, carbon-14 dating is unreliable.”
