The Nature of the Body Images on the Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin is a 4.4 x 1.1 m linen cloth bearing the front and back body images, accompanied by blood, images, of what appears to be a crucified man. As it is alleged to be the actual burial cloth of Jesus, it is a most controversial object. Many of those not accepting this claim have asserted that it is just a painting, although it is now clear that the blood images are due to the cloth having been in contact with a wounded human body. A large body of scientific evidence has now been accumulated on this object and will be reviewed in some detail, including the question of authenticity. It will be clear that it is not a painting, nor any of several other recently suggested explanations such as a photograph, although the mechanism of the formation of the body images remains a mystery. Matters concerning its conservation will also be briefly touched upon.