The Shroud of Turin is a linen burial cloth woven in a distinctive 3:1 herringbone pattern. Spanning approximately 14 feet 3 inches in length and 3 feet 7 inches in width, this single piece of cloth features detailed front and back images of a man who appears to have been crucified.
Venerated as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, the Shroud of Turin first gained public attention in 1355 when it was showcased in Lirey, France. Its significance has drawn large crowds and even led to the creation of souvenir medallions, one of which is now housed at the Cluny Museum in Paris.
No other relic has been subjected to as much scientific investigation as the Shroud of Turin. These studies aim to uncover the origins of the cloth and the enigmatic nature of the images it bears.
Scientific exploration of the Shroud's image began in earnest with the 1898 photographs, which surprisingly revealed the image as a photographic negative. In 1978, the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) confirmed that the image was not created by dyes, chemicals, vapors, scorching, or brush strokes. This has led researchers to explore several naturalistic explanations, none of which fully account for the image's unique features.
For more detailed insights and to uncover further mysteries of the Shroud of Turin, explore the other articles in this series: