To sonhouse on Carbon 14 Dating

Is it possible to accurately date old dried up blood with the Carbon 14
process? They claim there was type AB blood detected on the Shroud
of Turin. If it is possible, then I would think that would be the best
thing to try and date on the Shroud of Turin.

Originally posted by RJHinds
Is it possible to accurately date old dried up blood with the Carbon 14
process? They claim there was type AB blood detected on the Shroud
of Turin. If it is possible, then I would think that would be the best
thing to try and date on the Shroud of Turin.

Not exactly a given that blood would be from the original "owner". This Shroud, as I understand it, has been traipsed around everywhere in the hands of counts, dukes, wayfarers, circus clowns, nuns, pixies, and Martians. It's been rescued from fires, patched, handled, paraded about, stored in tombs -- anyone could have bled on the thing at any time, especially during the time or two it was rescued from fires.

And pollen. It's been exposed to ambient air innumerable times, probably at all times of the year in all sorts of places, so pollen contamination is inevitable. I bring this up because pollen in the linen has been analyzed to death among other things.

Anyway, my guess is that the blood residue in the fabric is too miniscule to get an accurate C14 dating done.

Originally posted by Soothfast
Anyway, my guess is that the blood residue in the fabric is too miniscule to get an accurate C14 dating done.

But wasn't there a puddle of blood where His side was pierced?

Originally posted by RJHinds
But wasn't there a puddle of blood where His side was pierced?

They would have to get a sample that they are sure is entirely blood. If fibres / paint or other carbon bearing substances from a different date were included in the sample it would affect the dating method.

Originally posted by twhitehead
They would have to get a sample that they are sure is entirely blood. If fibres / paint or other carbon bearing substances from a different date were included in the sample it would affect the dating method.

You mean scientist can't tell the difference between blood, fiber, and paint?

Originally posted by RJHinds
You mean scientist can't tell the difference between blood, fiber, and paint?

It could be very difficult. You cant exactly test a sample for its various elements and then later send it through the Carbon 14 test machine too. Generally, each test destroys the sample. So it would probably have to depend on visual inspection, and I am not sure that they can be distinguished that way.

Originally posted by twhitehead
It could be very difficult. You cant exactly test a sample for its various elements and then later send it through the Carbon 14 test machine too. Generally, each test destroys the sample. So it would probably have to depend on visual inspection, and I am not sure that they can be distinguished that way.

So I guess you are saying that this is something that is probably beyond
mankind's present capabilities, right?