An article in The Times of today, 18 April, again draws attention to the Turin Shroud, allegedly the shroud in which Jesus was buried. The film director David Rolfe offers one million dollar to the British Museum when it can present evidence that the Shroud is a 'fake'.

David Rolfe, alongside a scan of the shroud, believes the fact the face is clearer in photo negatives raises questions about when it was created. Jeff Moore.

Many years ago I was asked by Ian Wilson, author of The Turin Shroud: The Burial Cloth of Jesus Christ?, a 1979 bestseller, to become a member of the British Turin Shroud Committee (BTSC) on the recommendation of Elisabeth Crowfoot, a renowned textile archaeologist.

I felt very honoured, until I discovered that Ian was convinced that the Shroud was genuine, while I quickly realised, based on my knowledge of Roman period textiles from Egypt and the Levant and armed with a hand lens (now costing about 20 euros) that the cloth was 'wrong' for the Roman period (spin of the threads, type of weave, width of the cloth) and unlike the products of Levantine looms from some 2000 yeaars ago The cloth is perfectly attributable to medieval types of fabric.

I informed Ian Wilson about my conclusions and not long afterwards I was no longer a member of the BTSC..... such is life! It was felt that spending millions via NASA and other groups for all sorts of dating methods was much more impressive and scientifically more satisfying (and financially rewarding for scientists and television producers) than experience and a hand lens. 

Should the TRC apply for the 1 million reward? 

Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, Director TRC, 18 April 2022