Italian scientists claim to have made a significant breakthrough in the study of the Shroud of Turin, the cloth believed by many to have been used to wrap Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.

Using a "cutting-edge" x-ray technique, researchers have confirmed details about the shroud that have long been debated and theorised.

The Shroud of Turin, also known as the Holy Shroud, has been the subject of controversy for centuries. Many religious believers hold that the cloth was used to cover the body of Jesus following his crucifixion. Although the Catholic Church has never officially endorsed or dismissed the shroud’s authenticity, it is carefully preserved under strict security at the Cappella della Sacra Sindone, a Catholic chapel in Turin, northern Italy.

The Shroud of Turin is the most studied object in the world – and for good reason. If authentic, this linen cloth would constitute physical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. 

Nearly 700 years after it was first displayed to the public in the 1350s, the shroud, faintly bearing the image of a bearded man believed by some to be Christ, has now been scientifically dated with greater accuracy than ever before.

Italian researchers utilising a novel x-ray method have determined that the cloth dates back to the time when Jesus is said to have lived, providing concrete evidence that aligns with longstanding beliefs about the shroud's origin.