A new technique using Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) analyzes structural degradation in linen fibers to date ancient fabric. Applied to the Shroud of Turin, researchers confirmed the method's viability for dating linen textiles — though the specific age determination remains under methodological debate. This offers an alternative approach to the 1988 carbon dating which dated the Shroud to medieval times.
New Cellulose Dating Technique Dates Shroud to 2,000 Years
Key facts
- A new technique tracks the deterioration rate of cellulose in linen fibers to date fabric age
- Applied to the Shroud of Turin, the cellulose dates to approximately 2,000 years old
- This places the Shroud in the timeframe of the 1st century AD, consistent with the death of Jesus Christ
- The technique provides evidence that challenges the 1988 carbon dating which dated the Shroud to medieval times (c. 700 years old)
Sources
shroud.com
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