>>15535976There are 14 indicators for the date for the Shroud, 13 of which are consistent with the time of Jesus. Only the C14 date is inconsistent with the time of Jesus. These dating techniques are summarized below:
1. In 1988, samples were cut from a corner of the Shroud for carbon dating at three laboratories. The results of the 16 measurements were interpreted to mean that the Shroud dated to 1260-1390.
2. The Hungarian Pray Codex or Manuscript is historically dated to 1192 to 1195 AD. It includes a painted drawing that must have been copied from the Shroud of Turin based on the pattern of burn holes on the painting and on the Shroud, so the Shroud must have existed in 1192-1195 AD.
3. It is believed that the spinning wheel was invented in Asia by the 11th century and had spread to Europe by the 13th century. Since the Shroud is made of hand-spun thread, the threads that compose the Shroud were probably spun before the 12th century.
4. The international standard of the market place at the time of Jesus was the Assyrian cubit which was equal to about 21.6 inches (54.9 cm). The dimensions of the Shroud in this unit is very close to 8 by 2 cubits, indicating it was made in ancient times when the cubit was used as a unit of measurement.
5. Ancient coins that contain the same image as the Shroud of Turin go back to about 675 AD, thus showing that the Shroud must have existed prior to about 675 AD.
6. The face cloth of Jesus is believed to be in Oviedo, Spain, arriving there in 840 AD. It is called the Sudarium of Oviedo. Similarity of the blood stain on the Sudarium and the Shroud mean that they covered the same body, indicates that the Shroud can also be dated back to at least 840 AD.
7. Ancient paintings and other works of art that contain the same image as the Shroud of Turin go back to about 550 AD.
8. The image on the Shroud is that of a crucified man. Specifics of this image indicates that it was made at a time when there was current knowledge of Roman Crucifixion, which was outlawed in 337 AD. Thus, the image on the Shroud was probably made earlier than 337 AD.
9. Galatians 3:1 (~ 47 to 56 AD) indicates the believers in Galatia were shown something that “clearly” or “publicly portrayed” “Jesus Christ … as crucified” (NIV & NASB). They had seen it with their “very eyes” (NIV). A very reasonable explanation is that they saw Jesus’ burial shroud containing his blood and possibly his image.
10. There is a 3.5-inch wide piece of linen that is sewn onto the main piece of the Shroud. The stitch used to connect this side piece is a unique stitch, most similar to a stitch on a piece of cloth found at Masada, which was destroyed in 73 to 74 AD.
11. The image on the Shroud is that of a naked man who was crucified exactly as the Bible says that Jesus was crucified. Many evidences indicate that it is most reasonable to believe that the image was made by his dead body. Jesus probably died either in 30 or 33 AD, so that the Shroud must also date to 30 or 33 AD.
12. A photograph of the face on the Shroud taken by professional photographer Giuseppe Enrie in 1931 indicates a possible coin over one eye. It has been identified as a Roman Lepton minted by Pontius Pilate in 29 to 32 AD. This evidence is tentative.
13. Giulio Fanti developed three different types of physical tests to determine how flax fibers change with age. When these tests were applied to the Shroud they gave an average date of 33 BC ± 250.
14. Fibers from the Shroud show damage from sources of natural background radiation similar to that found on the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are dated to about 250 BC to 70 AD. Thus, the Shroud should date to about this same period.