The chemical signatures of the Shroud of Turin dirt samples and the tomb limestone from Jerusalem were identical.

Some of the material in this essay is obsolete. Please refer to the
Shroud of Turin Story Home Page

The
Resurrection
Problem
and the
Shroud of Turin


Searching for Sister Ann's Bishop Who Thinks Ann is Nuts

An Episcopalian's Perspective

--  AN  ONLINE  ESSAY --

By Daniel R. Porter

  1. Introduction
  2. "Ann, You're Nuts"
  3. What we need to know 
  4. The newer evidence
  5. The resurrection problem
  6. Vetting
  7. Acceptance
  8. Textile studies
  9. Plant images and pollen
    10.
  10. Travertine aragonite
  11. Sudarium of Oviedo
  12. The Image of Edessa
  13. Jesus in art
  14. A negative that is not a negative
  15. Other visual characteristics
  16. The most intriguing characteristic
  17. A picture of a million words
  18. How were the images formed ? 
  19. Appendix: Carbon 14, etc.

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Part 10:  Travertine Aragonite

Dr. Joseph Kohlbeck, Resident Scientist at the Hercules Aerospace Center in Utah, and Dr. Richard Levi-Setti of the Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago, examined embedded dirt particles taken from the Shroud's surface. The dirt was found to be travertine aragonite limestone. Using a high-resolution microprobe, Levi-Setti and Kolbeck compared the spectra of samples taken from the Shroud with samples of limestone from two sites in Jerusalem: the Holy Sepulcher and the Garden tomb. These samples were obtained and certified by the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem and are both reputed to be Jesus' burial site. The chemical signatures of the Shroud samples and the tomb limestone were identical except for some minute fragments of organic cellulous linen fiber that could not be separated from the Shroud samples. Kolbeck acknowledges that this is not absolute proof that the Shroud was in Jerusalem and that there might be other places in the world - though none are known and it is statistically unlikely any will be found - where travertine aragonite has the identical trace chemical composition.

 

Dan Porter is an Episcopalian and a member of Trinity Church, Wall Street, in New York City. He may be contacted by email at porter@shroudstory.com or by mail at 20 McIntyre Street, Bronxville, NY 10708. 

(c) Copyright 2001, Daniel R. Porter. All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced in full for any non-commercial purpose without further permission.