Shroud Enigma/Valencia Challenge
Concluding session at the International Congress of the Shroud of Turin in Spain. Projected above the panel is the statement of the challenge to anyone wishing to replicate the Shroud image (see below). On the panel left to right: D. Guillermo Heras, D. Jorge Manuel Rodriguez Almenar, D. Bruno Barberis (Turin) and D. Andres Brito Galindo.
Statement in Full
The Valencia Shroud Enigma Challenge
The International Congress of the Shroud of Turin In Spain.
This 2012 conference celebrates 25 years of activity of the C.E.S. To mark this event, and in the light of the evidence accumulated over that period, the Congress issues the following challenge:
The Shroud and its image must be regarded as a unique enigma that has to date defied a scientific explanation despite the C14 test carried out in 1988.
Anyone asserting that the Shroud of Turin is a medieval artefact and who also wishes to claim scientific credentials must first show how it can bear an image with the following characteristics:
1
The body image is created by molecular change of linen fibres. There are also bloodstains. There is no body image beneath the bloodstains. (For the avoidance of doubt, this characteristic does not exclude the possibility that the molecular change may have taken place in an impurity layer at the linen surface).
2
The body image does not penetrate below the surface fibres. The body image is not visible when illuminated by transmitted light. The bloodstains are.
3
The body image varies in intensity that correlates to expected cloth-body distances had the cloth covered a body.
4
The sides of the body are not represented even where blood has transferred to the cloth and between the head images.
5
The resolution of the image is sufficient to resolve body features of a few millimetres.
6
There are no outlines or directionality to the body image within the plane of the cloth.
7
The body image has the visual characteristics of a photographic negative. That is, normal light and dark areas are reversed.
The above consensus was reached under the auspices of the conference chairman Dr. Jorge Manuel Rodriguez (left). Those contributing to and reaching the consensus on the basis of their special interest in the nature of the image include: Dr. John Jackson (USA), Dr. Paulo di Lazzaro (Italy), Dr. Cesar Barta, (Spain); Dr. Alfonso Munoz-Cobo y Bengoa, (Spain); Dr. Bruno Barberis, (Italy).
Contributing to the discussions and also concurring with the consensus were: Barrie Schwortz, (USA); Dr Andrew Silverman, (UK); Ian Wilson, (Australia) and Mark Guscin (Spain).
Contributing to the discussions and also concurring with the consensus were: Barrie Schwortz, (USA); Dr Andrew Silverman, (UK); Ian Wilson, (Australia) and Mark Guscin (Spain).
Why have such a list?
David Rolfe makes the case for a consensus on the Shroud image characteristics
Achieving the above consensus from the Valencia Conference was a major objective of this site. I am very grateful for the alacrity which Jorge and the other conference principals responded to my late request that the search for it should be made an additional part of the programme. In doing so, the conference made clear that it preferred not to see the challenge directed at any specific individual or organisation but should act as a generic set of characteristics to be applied whenever anyone claims to be able to emulate the Shroud image or who dismisses the Shroud as medieval without first explaining it.
When this site first decided to pose a challenge to Richard Dawkins it had, somewhat naively, assumed that a consensus on the image characteristics was readily available. This turned out to be not so and a lively discussion began.
Given the timing and the international nature of the Valencia Congress it was the perfect place to pin things down. However, not everyone who might be qualified to contribute could be there or be consulted so it would be rash to assume the above list is "cast in stone". Most of those that did participate all had issues they would have liked to have seen included or refined. I expect and hope the discussion will continue in the various forums that exist. Should there be any specific amendments or additions then these can be put to the original endorsers of the list and, by further consensus, it can be revised. Indeed, new data may also emerge that would require consideration. In the meantime, this site - and indeed anyone else - can pursue their own challenges from a much firmer foundation.
David Rolfe
Editor, Shroud-Enigma.com
When this site first decided to pose a challenge to Richard Dawkins it had, somewhat naively, assumed that a consensus on the image characteristics was readily available. This turned out to be not so and a lively discussion began.
Given the timing and the international nature of the Valencia Congress it was the perfect place to pin things down. However, not everyone who might be qualified to contribute could be there or be consulted so it would be rash to assume the above list is "cast in stone". Most of those that did participate all had issues they would have liked to have seen included or refined. I expect and hope the discussion will continue in the various forums that exist. Should there be any specific amendments or additions then these can be put to the original endorsers of the list and, by further consensus, it can be revised. Indeed, new data may also emerge that would require consideration. In the meantime, this site - and indeed anyone else - can pursue their own challenges from a much firmer foundation.
David Rolfe
Editor, Shroud-Enigma.com
The official delegates picture at the Valencia Conference.