Case file · File · Prove All Things
1988: Three Labs Dated the Shroud
“But prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Douay-Rheims
The case
In nineteen eighty-eight, three labs carbon-dated the Shroud of Turin. Oxford, Arizona, and Zurich. All three said the linen came from the Middle Ages. Roughly twelve sixty to thirteen ninety. The cardinal of Turin announced it himself. He didn't hide it.
The evidence
Every quotation below is printed in the words of the edition named under it. Nothing is paraphrased.
“For the believer, what counts above all is that the Shroud is a mirror of the Gospel.”John Paul II, address in Turin Cathedral, 24 May 1998 (vatican.va English text) — read it at the source
“…the Church has no specific competence to pronounce on these questions.”John Paul II, address in Turin Cathedral, 24 May 1998 (vatican.va English text) — read it at the source
“She entrusts to scientists the task of continuing to investigate…”John Paul II, address in Turin Cathedral, 24 May 1998 (vatican.va English text) — read it at the source
“And if Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”1 Corinthians 15:14 (Douay) — read it at the source
What’s established, and what isn’t
What the sources support, claim by claim — each one checked against the sources listed at the foot of this page:
- 1988 dating by Oxford, Arizona and Zurich; published Nature 1989; range 1260-1390
- Cardinal Ballestrero announced the result (13 Oct 1988)
- Some scientists argued the sample area was a medieval repair (e.g. Rogers 2005); contested
- Raw data released (2017) and re-analysed (Casabianca et al. 2019) finding heterogeneity
- No paint, pigment, dye or stain was found in the image (STURP, 1978-81); Secondo Pia's 1898 photograph showed that the image behaves like a photographic negative
- The Church has never officially pronounced on authenticity
- John Paul II, Turin 1998: 'mirror of the Gospel'; the Church has no specific competence and entrusts the science to scientists
Where the record stops short:
- The 1988 radiocarbon dating gave 1260-1390 and was published in Nature. The argument that the sample came from a medieval repair is contested, not settled.
- The 2017 release of the raw data and the 2019 re-analysis found the measurements less uniform than reported. That weakens the published range; it does not replace it with a date.
- The Church has never pronounced on the Shroud's authenticity. John Paul II in 1998 said the Church has no specific competence in the matter and entrusts the science to scientists.
For your men’s group
- Three laboratories agreed on a date and the argument did not end. What makes a test final, and did this one qualify?
- The Church has never declared the Shroud authentic. Why might that restraint be a strength rather than a dodge?
- Would your faith move at all if the question were settled tomorrow, either way? What does your answer tell you?
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Every source
- Damon et al., Nature 1989 (Arizona, Oxford, Zurich): AD 1260-1390, with at least 95% confidence
- Casabianca et al., "Radiocarbon Dating of the Turin Shroud: New Evidence from Raw Data", Archaeometry 61(5), 2019, 1223-1231
- Ballestrero announced the result in Turin on 13 October 1988
- 1978/1981 project summary: no paint, pigment, dye or stain found
- John Paul II, Turin, 24 May 1998: mirror of the Gospel; no specific competence; entrusts to scientists
- 1 Cor 15:14 Douay wording
- Secondo Pia's 1898 photograph: his negative plate shows a positive-looking image (Wikimedia Commons file page)
Found an error? [email protected] — errata corrected the day they’re found.
Drafted with AI assistance, founder-directed, and checked against the sources linked here. Our editorial standards.
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