First Modern Scientific Examination

Turin, ItalyScience

In October 1973, the Shroud was briefly examined by an international commission. This was the first time in the modern era that scientific equipment and imaging techniques were permitted direct access to the Shroud.

Scope of the Examination

The commission carried out:

  • Photographic imaging under controlled lighting
  • Material observations of the Shroud’s fibers and surface features
  • Limited non-destructive tests to document the Shroud’s condition

Although the access was restricted, the 1973 examination established protocols and demonstrated the feasibility of scientific study, paving the way for the far more extensive STURP investigation in 1978.

Sources & References

  1. Guscin, M. (1999). The Image of Edessa. Brill.
  2. Wilson, I. (1978). The Shroud of Turin. Doubleday.
  3. Schwalbe, L. & Rogers, R. (1982). Physics and Chemistry of the Shroud of Turin: A Summary of the 1978 Investigation. Analytica Chimica Acta, 135(1), 3-49.