Book on Shroud of Turin

I have recently published the following book which members might
find of interest:

   "The Rape of the Turin Shroud--how Christianity's most precious
    relic was wrongly condemned, and violated." by William Meacham;
    paperback, 286 pages; Lulu Press; ISBN 1-4116-5769-1.

This book was motivated in large part by the travesty of an
aggressive "restoration" of the relic in 2002. Valuable data was
destroyed, opportunities for research squandered, materials taken
from the cloth without stringent controls, and repairs dating from
1534 that constituted part of the Shroud's visual heritage were
removed. This operation (incorrectly termed "restoration") was
conducted in secret, without peer review, by a small circle of
advisers to the archbishop of Turin. It has been roundly condemned
by most Shroud researchers as a conservation and scientific
disaster.

The book also focuses on the carbon-dating of 1988. It deals mostly
with personalities, how events unfolded, and the scientific issues.
The author is an archaeologist and had first-hand experience of both
sagas as they unfolded.

Part I of the book is a general overview (first published as a major
article in Current Anthropology in 1983) of the study of the Shroud
as it stood at that time, and of the principal areas of contention.
Part II describes the lead-up to the carbon-dating, and the debate
over the results which continues to the present day. Part III deals
in detail with the "restoration".

The Preface, Table of Contents and author biography can be read
online at <URL:http://www.lulu.com/content/144747> by clicking
"Preview this book."

A review of the book by two veteran American Shroud researchers can
be seen at
<URL:http://www.shroud.com/pdfs/meacham%20book%20review.pdf>

Price varies from US$17 to $24 at online booksellers; some offer
free or discounted shipping.

William Meacham
Honorary Research Fellow
Centre of Asian Studies
University of Hong Kong


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:1
                  Distributed: Saturday, June 24, 2006
                        Message Id: cdl-20-1-021
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