A Critical Summary of Observations, Data and Hypotheses

TThhee SShhrroouudd ooff TTuurriinn A Critical Summary of Observations, Data and Hypotheses If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for the ‘yes’ of our hearts. Pope Benedict XVI Version 4.0 Copyright 2017, Turin Shroud Center of Colorado Preface The purpose of the Critical Summary is to provide a synthesis of the Turin Shroud Center of Colorado (TSC) thinking about the Shroud of Turin and to make that synthesis available to the serious inquirer. Our evaluation of scientific, medical forensic and historical hypotheses presented here is based on TSC’s tens of thousands of hours of internal research, the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) data, and other published research. The Critical Summary synthesis is not itself intended to present new research findings. With the exception of our comments all information presented has been published elsewhere, and we have endeavored to provide references for all included data. We wish to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of several persons and organizations. First, we would like to acknowledge Dan Spicer, PhD in Physics, and Dave Fornof for their contributions in the construction of Version 1.0 of the Critical Summary. We are grateful to Mary Ann Siefker and Mary Snapp for proofreading efforts. The efforts of Shroud historian Jack Markwardt in reviewing and providing valuable comments for the Version 4.0 History Section are deeply appreciated. We also are very grateful to Barrie Schwortz (Shroud.com) and the STERA organization for their permission to include photographs from their database of STURP photographs. Barrie served as a lead photographer during the 1978 STURP expedition to Turin, Italy to study the Shroud and today is recognized worldwide as the founder and administrator of the important Shroud research repository site http://www.shroud.com. John Jackson, PhD physics Keith Propp, PhD physics Rebecca Jackson Ares Koumis Jim Bertrand Bob Siefker (Co-author Version 1.0, document maintenance) Turin Shroud Center of Colorado www.shroudofturin.com All Shroud and STURP photographs are ©1978 STERA Inc. unless otherwise noted. (See photo and Image Credits). Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1979 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The Turin Shroud Center of Colorado is a proud education partner of ACHS: The American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud www.shroudconfraternity.org Copyright 2017, Turin Shroud Center of Colorado Table of Contents Introduction 3 Section 1: Historical Evidence (Items H1-H28) 7 Section 2: Medical Forensic Evidence (Items M1-M17) 47 Section 3: Linen Cloth Evidence (Items L1-L14) 57 Section 4: Image Characteristic Evidence (Items C1-C6 / B1-B11) 69 Section 5: Image-Formation Hypotheses (F1-F10) 81 Section 6: Rating the Image-Formation Hypotheses 89 Section 7: Dating The Shroud 91 Concluding Comments 99 Appendix 1: STURP Team Members 101 Appendix 2: Rating Details for Image-Formation Hypotheses 103 Appendix 3: Evidence Revision Log 114 References 117 Photograph and Image Credits 133 1 (Fig. 1) Christ Pantocrator Icon discovered at St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Desert of Egypt and dated to the year ca. 550 AD. See Item H9 in the History Section for extended discussion. 2 INTRODUCTION Introduction In 1978 John Jackson, PhD in Physics who today serves This is a remarkable claim. Can it be true? Only through a as president of the Turin Shroud Center of Colorado serious examination of the evidence can the inquirer (TSC), led a large team of research specialists to Turin begin to come to a justified judgment regarding the (Torino), Italy. Under the auspices of the Shroud of Turin answer to that potentially life-changing question. The Research Project (STURP) the team undertook an in- Critical Summary is designed to help the inquirer begin depth study of the Shroud and its image. The STURP that examination. team was given unprecedented access to the Shroud. For 120 continuous hours the Shroud was examined in depth. Such direct access to the Shroud had not been given prior How the Critical Summary is organized to this, nor has it been given since. The STURP team The Critical Summary is designed to be maintained and consisted of outstanding scientists, research assistants evolve over time as important new historic, scientific and and professional photographers. Appendix 1 lists the forensic evidence on the Shroud is discovered. Because names and home organizations of the STURP team of this we would characterize the Critical Summary as a members. The team used advanced scientific instruments “living’” summary of the high points of Shroud research. for their five days and nights of examining the Shroud. Each new edition will be given a new version number. Among the methods used to gather data were direct New editions corresponding to the inclusion of extremely microscopy, infrared spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence important new research findings regarding the Shroud, will spectrometry, X-ray radiography, thermography, and be given a cardinal number designation, for example ultraviolet fluorescence spectrometry. In addition, a broad Version 4.0. Less important new evidence will be spectrum of photographic data was collected. Ultraviolet documented in an on-line only edition (i.e. Version 4.1), fluorescence photographs, raking-light photographs, that may be accessed on the TSC website normal front-lit photographs and backlit photographs of (http://www.shroudofturin.com). All changes to Shroud the entire Shroud were taken. The STURP team also evidence documented in the Critical Summary can be collected sticky tape samples from the surface of the tracked through reference to the Evidence Revision Log Shroud cloth as well as thread samples. The Minnesota contained in Appendix 3. Mining and Manufacturing Corporation (3M) designed and produced a special tape specifically for the STURP Data items presented in Sections 2, 3 and 4 are based on project: an amorphous, inert, pure-hydrocarbon adhesive forensic and scientific study of the Shroud. The scientific that would not contaminate the Shroud samples. All of method requires that such evidence be presented as a these samples were retained and returned to the United proposition that may, by its very nature, be subject to States for further studies. The subsequent studies of the further study and possible revision. At a minimum, all tape samples were carried out using microscopy, such items of evidence must be evaluated and assessed. pyrolysis-mass-spectrometry, laser-microbe Raman The Critical Summary uses the following ratings for each analysis and various methods of microchemical testing. item of forensic evidence in these three sections: The results of the STURP research were published in twenty peer-reviewed scientific journal articles over the Class 1: This rating is given to items of evidence that course of four years following the team’s work in Turin. are firmly supported by scientific and/or The purpose of the Critical Summary is to provide an up- forensic research. to-date summary of what is known about the Shroud. The Class 2: This rating is given to an item of evidence Critical Summary includes many pieces of data that trace generally supported by scientific and/or their source back to the research conducted by the forensic research, but the item requires STURP team, as well as data from the broad spectrum of additional confirming research in order to be other scientific and historical research that has been upgraded to Class 1. conducted on the Shroud, both before and after the STURP expedition to Turin. One thing is certain: The Class 3: This rating is given where the item is Shroud is an artifact that plainly exists. It is of interest documented or reported as Shroud because it is the informed judgment of many that the evidence but remains disputed by many Shroud is the actual burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. researchers including the TSC organization. 3 INTRODUCTION Evidence Presentation and Photographs Shown below is an example of how an item of evidence is actual body that might have been wrapped in the Shroud. presented and how the Item Identification is linked to the In many cases the photographs in the Critical Summary reference section of the Critical Summary. The example have been reversed so that images are presented as if an shown is from Section 3: Linen Cloth Evidence. actual body is being viewed. To help the reader avoid Following the example of how the evidence is presented confusion key Shroud photographs have been labeled to are two photographs that show how Shroud photographs indicate whether the Shroud Image or Body Image view are presented in the Critical Summary. The first is being presented. The following three benchmarks will photograph shows the image side of the Shroud, as it also be helpful in establishing orientation when viewing would be viewed in natural light. This photograph shows frontal negative photographs of Body Images. the locations where the frontal and dorsal images of a human body are imprinted on the cloth. Also noted on 1. The blood flow on the forehead when looking at the this photograph are the prominent, and unfortunately body resembles the letter “3”. distracting, burn and scorch lines left on the cloth by a fire 2. The chest wound is on the right side of the body. that damaged the Shroud in the year 1532. The second 3. The left hand of the body crosses the right hand. photograph is a negative photograph of the Shroud showing the upper body portion of the Shroud Frontal It will also be helpful to remember that in positive Image.

Load more