Yesterday, Louis C. de Figueiredo published an interesting new paper, Is the Sudarium of Oviedo the key to unraveling the mystery of the Shroud of Turin? at Academia.edu. A sampling:
This takes us to the crucial question: is the Sudarium of Oviedo “the cloth that was about his head” mentioned in the Gospel according to John 20: 6-7? It must be remembered that this is possible precisely because, being soaked in blood, it had to be kept in the tomb, in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
The striking points of similarity between the Sudarium of Oviedo and the Shroud of Turin make it possible to deduce that they had been used on the same corpse. If, therefore, more concrete evidence can demonstrate that both cloths were really in contact with the same dead body the 1988 radiocarbon dating would have to be laid to rest. There can be no doubt that the cloth preserved in Spain has importance to Shroud history. However, the issue is very complex, because although there are points relating to authenticity, an association would also have to be established with Jesus. A lot more work needs to be done and the views of experts in the field of medicine demand attention; the issues that are pending are not few.
[…]
It is not possible to say when exactly the Church will allow another in-depth examination of the two relics. Fortunately, research has not come to a standstill in Spain and the latest findings have come from the able hands of Dr. Juan Manuel Miñarro López, professor of Sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Seville. His masterly monograph, entitled Sobre la Compatibilidad de la Síndone y el Sudarium (On the Compatibility of the Shroud and the Sudarium), richly illustrated with images, diagrams and photographs, was published in the no. 56, January- June issue of Linteum, the high quality journal published in the Spanish language by the Centro Español de Sindonologia in Valencia, Spain. The Sudarium has been confined to an undeserved silence beyond Spain. It is time, therefore, for Spanish and more American scientists to get together and produce new in-depth studies. The CES, made up of highly qualified members, many of whom teach at universities or work in other institutions, is aware of the need to set aside language barriers and is in the process of producing a scientific magazine in English. If their research continues at this rate it may well be that the Sudarium of Oviedo is the key to interpreting the Shroud of Turin, as maintained by Professor Jorge-Manuel Rodríguez Almenar, president of the organisation.
You will want to read the entire paper.
Has the Sudarium been radiocarbon dated?
Yes, this is mentioned in the article. It must also be pointed out that the main stains on the Sudarium were placed on the Shroud face in relief.
I wonder if the sudarium has ever been tested for pollen, as Max Frei tested the shroud? If one excepts Frei’s pollen claims, that creates a problem for the carbon dating. We know the shroud’s location since 1355 and it never was in the Holy Land.
Hi Matt, yes the Sudarium has been tested for pollen and the findings apparently coincide exactly with where the Sudarium had purportedly travelled along the Northern edges of Africa from Israel into Spain.
As far as I remember the Sudarium of Oviedo was radiocarbon dated once more in a spanish laborator (/ I guess in Madrid) in 2008.
The results confirmed a previous dating from the seventh century A.D.although this was not a surprise at all for scientists of Centro Español de Sindonologia because it is well known that the Sudarium has a high level of contamination.
When I attended 2012 Valencia Shroud Congress I remember to listen to a presentation by a member of Centro Español de Sindonologia who explained those results because there was enrichment of the fabric with new C14 from tiny carbonaceous particles stuck to the fibers which could not be removed in cleaning pre dating procedures.
Actually he showed interesting images where everyone could see those tiny black spots stuck to the fibers, as he explained resulting from previous fire in the cathedral.
I got the idea that a correct radiodating of Oviedo Sudarium was thus impossible.
This is all I can share with you.
I think this paper is entitled «Dating the Cloth by C14 Method-The Oviedo Sudarium by Felipe Montero Ortega but it’s not available perhaps the Magazine Linteum from Centro Español de Sindonologia has already published it
P.S. Louis, parabéns pelo seu excellente trabalho.as suas contribuições são sempre bem-vindas
To Louis: congratulations on your excellent work your contributions are always welcome
regards
Antero de Frias Moreira
Centro Português de Sindonologia
Has someone a contact to Senor Ortega? Perhaps he may agree for his paper being published on Barrie’s site.
Directed to Antero de Frias Moreira, in Lisbon:
Boa tarde, Antero
Agradeço sua mensagem e encorajamento. Também vejo que você faz a sua parte do trabalho.
Sobre a datação da relíquia, sei que a Camara Santa explodiu em 1934, causando danos, e também cheguei a pensar que esse acontecimento poderia ser uma das causas dos resultados em 1983.
Translation:
Thank you for your message and encouragement. I also see that you do your part of the job.
Regarding the dating of the relic, I know that the Camara Santa exploded in 1934, and also thought that this happening may have been one of the causes of the 1983 results.
http://international.ucam.edu/news/ucams-researchers-have-found-scientific-evidence-places-shroud-oviedo-and-shroud-turin-same
To O.K.
Perhaps if you contact Centro Español de Sindonologia via e-mail ces@linteum.com they can provide you the contact of Engineer Felipe Montero Ortega
To Louis:
Não sou de Lisboa, sou do Porto; agradeço seu incentivo
regards
Antero de frias Moreira
Antero, bom dia, peço desculpas, pensava que morava em Lisboa.
Translation:
Good morning, Antero, sorry, I thought you lived in Lisbon.
Some more on the Sudarium, from Professor Avinoam Danin, some years ago in “The New York Times”:
http://www.turin-shroud.com/jps/pollen.htm
Louis: Thank you for your interesting paper. I know, oneday some one will prove that both the Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo wrapped the same person in first centuary.
Hello Sampath
Thank you for the remarks.
Much will depend on further research, and if hands-on examination will be permitted in the future. In the case of the Sudarium, we do have details about the radiocarbon dating, so it is not to be taken very seriously and, as you know, the 1988 dating of the Shroud is controversial, there are just too many doubts for one to be sure about the results.
The Shroud is not an article of faith in the Catholic Church, but many Catholics and Orthodox Christians venerate relics, not Protestants. Yet, the Shroud is an ecumenical topic and can help bring Christians together.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35141241@N08/3283657238/
Sorry, I meant “we do not have details” about the radiocarbon dating of the Sudarium. The icon and other materials are Orthodox Church relics.