Man is no ape?

 

GROK on the age of the shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin’s age is a topic of ongoing debate, with evidence pointing to different conclusions. Radiocarbon dating conducted in 1988 by three independent labs (Oxford, Zurich, and Arizona) dated the shroud to between 1260 and 1390 CE, suggesting it’s a medieval artifact, roughly 635–765 years old as of 2025. The tests used accelerator mass spectrometry on a small sample of the cloth, yielding consistent results across the labs.

However, some researchers and believers challenge these findings, citing potential contamination (e.g., from repairs or environmental factors) or questioning the sample’s representativeness. They argue the shroud could be older, potentially from the 1st century CE, aligning with the time of Jesus, which would make it around 2,000 years old. Supporting this, some point to historical references, like the Edessa cloth mentioned in early Christian texts, or pollen and textile studies suggesting a Middle Eastern origin consistent with 1st-century Judea.

Recent analyses, like a 2024 X-ray study by Italian researchers, propose the cloth’s degradation patterns could indicate an age of about 2,000 years, but these findings are not peer-reviewed and remain contentious. Critics argue the radiocarbon data is more robust, while proponents of an older shroud claim the science is inconclusive.

Given the conflicting evidence, the most widely accepted estimate, based on the 1988 radiocarbon dating, places the shroud’s origin in the 13th–14th centuries (635–765 years old). Yet, the debate persists due to the artifact’s cultural and religious significance.