Researchers find oldest written claim that the Shroud of Turin was faked

The Shroud of Turin — a 14-foot-long linen cloth bearing an image of a crucified man — has captivated people for centuries, stirring debate over whether the relic once wrapped the body of Jesus Christ.

For some, the cloth serves as visual proof of Jesus’ resurrection; for others, it is merely a medieval relic made by an artist in the 14th century.

Now, researchers have found new evidence that the authenticity of the cloth was disputed in writing earlier than once thought: medieval texts from a respected and influential French philosopher, Nicole Oresme, who alleged around 1370 that the Shroud was faked for the purpose of the church. These claims appeared in Oresme’s collection of writings known as his “Problemata,” which are dated between 1355 and 1382, according to the new study publi