The case is temperature regulated and suspended in argon and oxygen to prevent any further degeneration. To preserve the shroud for centuries to come, it is housed in an airtight case made of bulletproof glass. The shroud has been protected at the Cathedral of Turin in Northern Italy since 1578. It wasn’t a cheap forgery created to make a quick coin or two but was so convincing that those who landed upon it truly believed they were seeing the burial shroud of Jesus Christ himself. The shroud, however, is of exemplary quality.

Read more about: Religion Things you didn’t know about early Christianity: 8 surprising facts Literary works from the period (such as Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales) depict peddlers and fraudsters that would capitalise on the disconnection and isolation of medieval Europe by scamming unsuspecting Christians into paying to see faux relics. Whether a forgery or a work of art, the shroud has baffled many for centuries. Three independent sources tested a small sample of the shroud and determined with 95% accuracy that it dated to 1260-1390. Later radiocarbon dating was undertaken in 1988. Testing ranged from historical material analysis to testing the pigments - and results indicated that the shroud had originated from the Middle Ages, not the 1st century. In 1978, the group was given special dispensation from the Vatican to have direct access to the shroud. In the 1970s, various scientists from across the community came together and formed the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) to gain further understanding of the relic. Since then, the linen has undergone various forms of forensic and scientific testing to try and accurately date it. The photograph’s negative provided a clearer image of the imprint in the fabric and showed detail that was previously hidden to the naked eye. The first photograph was taken in 1899 and enabled the global scientific community to study and analyse for themselves. Since the discovery of the shroud, there have been fierce debates as its origin and authenticity. Read more about: Medieval History The Nazi hunt for holy treasure from Thor's Hammer to the Holy Grail The Vatican publicly declared that it was not the authentic shroud of Jesus Christ. In a 1389 letter to the Pope, the Dean of the Lirey Church confirmed that the shroud’s forger had confessed it was a fake.

It wasn’t long until the shroud was officially recorded as a forgery. This led to fraudsters and forgers taking advantage of eager Christians that wanted a chance to witness holy relics for themselves. From the search for the Holy Grail to the Spear of Destiny: icons were incredibly sought after. Religious icons were a hugely important aspect of Catholicism throughout the Middle Ages. Claiming the shroud as the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ, there is no record as to how the knight came across it 1,300 years after the prophet’s crucifixion and resurrection. In the mid-1350s, a knight presented the shroud to the Dean of the church in the small French town of Lirey. Here are five interesting and surprising facts about the shroud that you might not know. Whether an impressive forgery or a living relic of extreme religious importance, the Shroud of Turin has continued to spark imaginations and theories. Read more about: Religion The lost years of Jesus: The mystery of Christ's missing 18 years

Shroud of turin debunked 2010