The Shroud of Turin is made of an exceptional linen fabric. But what makes it so unique?

In ancient times, linen was made from the fibers of the flax plant. The fibers were spun into threads, then woven on a vertical loom to create the finished cloth. Every step of this process was done by hand.

At that time, linen was a precious commodity. It was worn by kings and priests, and it symbolized purity, dignity, and sacred service.

The Shroud has a rare and intricate diagonal weave pattern. It is called a herringbone weave, because it resembles the skeleton of a herring fish. The herringbone weave technique was common in the Middle East and Egypt during the first century.

The Shroud itself was cut from a long roll of linen, with finished edges along its length and hems on the short ends. There is also a three-inch-wide side strip, which matches the original fabric, sewn along its length. Was the strip a later repair, or was the cloth originally prepared like this? The answer remains a mystery.

Even after centuries, the Shroud is remarkably soft and luminous. Every detail of the fabric indicates that it could have been made in the first century as a high-quality product.

Could this linen cloth have actually wrapped the body of Jesus? All four Gospels note that Jesus was buried in a linen cloth provided by a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea. We’ll look closer at this part of the story later.