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Shroud of Turin
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Joe Nickell - Grokipedia grokipedia.com Mar 4, 2025 9 facts
referenceIn his 1983 book Inquest on the Shroud of Turin: Latest Scientific Findings (updated 1998), Joe Nickell argues that the Shroud of Turin is not a miraculous imprint but was created using a bas-relief rubbing technique with pigments, consistent with 14th-century artistic practices.
accountJoe Nickell conducted his initial examination of the Shroud of Turin in 1978 during its public exhibition in Turin, Italy, using microscopy and historical records.
claimJoe Nickell observed that the Shroud of Turin's image characteristics were consistent with 14th-century artistic techniques, specifically the use of a bas-relief sculpture dusted with powdered pigment and pressed onto linen.
claimJoe Nickell's analysis of the Shroud of Turin incorporates iconographic comparisons, physical inspections, chemical tests, and 1988 radiocarbon dating results that placed the cloth's origin in the medieval period between 1260 and 1390 CE.
referenceJoe Nickell published his findings arguing that the Shroud of Turin is a medieval forgery in his 1983 book, Inquest on the Shroud of Turin.
claimJoe Nickell debunked pollen evidence promoted by Max Frei regarding the Shroud of Turin, demonstrating that the pollens were not exclusively Palestinian and could have adhered during the Shroud's medieval European travels or modern handling.
claimJoe Nickell's analysis of the Shroud of Turin incorporated findings from microscopist Walter McCrone, who identified red ochre pigment, vermilion, and gelatin tempera in the image and 'blood' stains, materials typical of medieval European artists.
claimIn the 2010s, Joe Nickell reaffirmed the medieval origin of the Shroud of Turin, citing the consistency of the 1988 radiocarbon dating (1260–1390 CE) with 14th-century artistic methods and critiquing alternative theories like bacterial residue or radiation as unsupported by empirical evidence.
referenceIn the book Relics of the Christ (2007), Joe Nickell reviews artifacts linked to Jesus and early Christianity, including the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the Holy Grail, the Spear of Destiny, and the Shroud of Turin.