This documentary is a solid scientific look at the actual shroud, claimed to be that which was wrapped around Jesus of Nazareth after his crucifixion and death, 2000 years ago. This is a claim which has been disputed in recent times, and a team was finally allowed to closely examine the shroud for five days in the 1970s.
A detailed examination is shown of the intensive investigation of the linen itself, including photography in different light wavelengths, 3D imaging, and radio-carbon dating performed in the 1980s. There are interviews with scientists who worked on this, including one who has since died, but not before he was convinced (by non-scientists) that the radio-carbon dating had given incorrect results. A detailed explanation of the reason for this is given.
Spoiler follows - the incorrect date was caused by the radio-carbon sample being taken from a repaired section of the shroud. This section contains cotton which had been interwoven with the linen, and dyed to match the colour of the linen, at some time in the past. This caused a resultant date partway between the actual ages of the two materials used.
No paints or colourings were found by scientists in the main body of the shroud, only the dye in the repaired section, meaning that the image was not painted on to the linen. No-one has been able to explain how this linen shroud contains a negative image of the body of a crucified man, or even how this could be done using modern techniques and materials.
A detailed examination is shown of the intensive investigation of the linen itself, including photography in different light wavelengths, 3D imaging, and radio-carbon dating performed in the 1980s. There are interviews with scientists who worked on this, including one who has since died, but not before he was convinced (by non-scientists) that the radio-carbon dating had given incorrect results. A detailed explanation of the reason for this is given.
Spoiler follows - the incorrect date was caused by the radio-carbon sample being taken from a repaired section of the shroud. This section contains cotton which had been interwoven with the linen, and dyed to match the colour of the linen, at some time in the past. This caused a resultant date partway between the actual ages of the two materials used.
No paints or colourings were found by scientists in the main body of the shroud, only the dye in the repaired section, meaning that the image was not painted on to the linen. No-one has been able to explain how this linen shroud contains a negative image of the body of a crucified man, or even how this could be done using modern techniques and materials.
