The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin is being called into question once again via a forensic study that suggests that the image contained on the cloth is a fabrication. The controversial piece of linen, which some believe to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, has been the subject of a seemingly unending debate that stretches back centuries. The latest twist in the Turin saga comes courtesy of a newly-published paper detailing a rather ingenious technique used to 'test' the image on the Shroud.
In the study, researchers attempted to see if the blood flow from wounds thought to be afflicting the person on the Shroud would actually match the depiction seen on the cloth. To pull off this feat, they enlisted a human volunteer who was outfitted with a small tube that dripped human blood from where the crucifixion nail would have been. Additionally, since the story of Jesus states that he was also suffering from a stab wound in his abdomen, researchers incorporated this injury into the study using a somewhat similar method involving a mannequin.
Despite positioning their test subjects in a number of different ways, the scientists behind the study found that the largely natural bloodstain patterns could not account for the legendary Shroud image. More on this fascinating story at the Coast to Coast AM website.