A PROFESSOR who analysed the Shroud of Turin says he found blood particles on it – claiming it backs up the Bible story of the crucifixion.
The Shroud of Turin is an ancient piece of linen cloth claiming to show an imprint of Christ – and some believe it was wrapped around his body for burial after he was crucified in a bloody execution.
The story goes that Jesus copped nails punctured into his hands and feet as he was crucified to a cross.
Now Giulio Fanti, an engineer from the University of Padua, has reanalysed samples of the shroud taken from the 1970s, saying he discovered blood particles along with traces of material typical of ancient Jerusalem.
That suggests the cloth came from the region, says the professor, matching the New Testament tale that Jesus was crucified on the hills just outside the Jerusalem walls.
Independent experts were quick to point out the cloth could’ve been contaminated with blood at any point over the hundreds of years since it was first showed to the public in the 1350s.
But the study was nonetheless published in the peer-reviewed Archives of Hematology Case Reports and Reviews
Fanti says he found hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, along with two different types of blood.
He claims his findings indicate the shroud was used on someone with wounds and gashes.
Some believe the cloth is simply a medieval fake but Fanti says this proves it wasn’t forged with paint, dye, ink or another technique.
He also claimed to find creatinine in the cloth, a waste product of creatine.
Aside from being a supplement of choice for gym junkies, creatine is released from the body when cells are broken down.
The study says: “The high percentage of creatinine found in (the sticky tape samples), may be explained, especially during Jesus’ last hour before dying on the cross, by a reduced blood flow to the kidneys also caused by hypovolemia and by severe dehydration.”
Fanti says this matches a line from John 19:28, which indicated Jesus was dehydrated: “Jesus said, I thirst.”
Going even further, Fanti claims his samples are consistent with someone who suffered significant trauma, in line with Jesus being flogged.
The blood samples show signs of uremic syndrome, when the kidneys can’t discard waste – but it’s also brought on by trauma to the region.
Fanti told Mail: “I would refer to Type A blood as that which came out of the corpse and therefore postmortem blood.
“It consists of microcytes which indicate the respiratory suffering of Jesus on the cross.”
Fanti is a Christian who has been studying the shroud for two-and-a-half decades.
His findings come with other evidence suggesting the cloth was made around 2,000 years ago – the same period when Jesus was said to have lived and died.
THE Shroud of Turin is a mysterious piece of linen cloth which has left researchers debating its origins for centuries.
Many have suggested the cloth was used to wrap around Jesus before his burial following the crucifixion.
Others have said it was produced far too late to be used by Jesus.
The burial cloth has captivated the minds of historians, church chiefs and religious sceptics since it was first shown publicly in the 1350s.
Esteemed French knight Geoffroi de Charny gave it to the dean of a church in Lirey, France.
It was later dubbed the Holy Shroud when the suggestions that it was used for Jesus came about.
Many of these theories relate to how it features brown marks across it resembling a person’s face and body.
Scientists have said the feint markings could possibly belong to the son of God.
It is 14ft 5in long and 3ft 7in in width and actually features some burn marks.
The shroud was damaged in a fire in 1532 in the chapel in Chambéry, France and was later repaired by nuns.
Scientists have long been studying the Shroud of Turin with hopes of solving the long-standing mystery.
More than 170 peer-reviewed academic papers have been published about the linen since the 1980s.
Despite a variation of findings many do believe it was used to bury Jesus.
Most estimates say Jesus was crucified in AD 33, based on the Julian calendar, Bible passages and gospels from the time – 1,991 years ago.
Italian researchers used specialist x-ray technology to examine the linen sheet and determine its age.
The Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council studied eight small samples of fabric to uncover tiny details of the linen’s structure and cellulose patterns.
They used specific ageing metrics like temperature and humidity to determine the results.
Also this week, artificial intelligence revealed what is claimed to be the true face of Jesus after analysing the cloth.
Using the marks on the cloth, The Sun asked AI to reimagine what the son of God might have looked like.
Clever AI tool Gencraft was given the prompt “face of Jesus based on the Shroud of Turin” and returned some fascinating results.
It shows Jesus as having hazel eyes and a gentle complexion.
Under his tired eyes he has clear signs of weariness.
Researchers who have studied the real cloth have made their own impersonations in the past.
Many have agreed that the person wrapped in the cloth was a man with sunken eyes and who was between 5ft 7in to 6ft tall and had plenty of facial hair.
The Turin Shroud has since 1578 been preserved in the royal chapel of the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin, Italy – hence its name.
