Why an Atheist Thinks the Shroud of Turin is the Real Deal

Inexplicable Results in Carbon Dating

Sometimes, erroneous results in Carbon 14 testing remain inexplicable. In most cases adequate reasons for improbable dates are found.  Contamination, not properly cleaned from samples, can seriously affect results. Sometimes, newer or older matter is introduced into samples, as was the case with the caribou bones that had absorbed chemically rich ground water.

In the case of the shroud, three independent laboratories used a recently developed Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) method for measuring the date. AMS has proven to be an accurate measurement technology that does not require that large samples be burned, as was necessary with older radiocarbon dating methods. The labs used control samples to ensure proper calibration. The few anomalous results encountered during calibration were thought to be few enough to be within appropriate margins of error. Unfortunately, the labs used identical testing protocols, thus it was really only one test performed three times. They also used an identical unproven cleaning procedure on three snippets of cloth; regrettably all cut from a single sample. The single cutting was taken from a corner of the shroud, which was probably the most contaminated part of the entire old dirty piece of linen, and one that had been mended with new thread.