The blood, sweat and tears on these threads are still — sorta — shrouded in mystery.
New findings provide more evidence on what Jesus might have been buried in after he was crucified.
A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins-trained immunologist Kelly Kearse suggests that it is, in fact, possible that Jesus was buried unwashed, wrapped in spices and linen — which is believed to be the Shroud of Turin — as biblical narratives suggest.
The research, published in the International Journal of Archaeology in June 2025, specifically referenced a garment where evidence of blood clotting was found.
Among the key discoveries from the study, visible rings around bloodstains — or serum halos — were found on the linen when examined with a UV light.
Kearse tested multiple samples — mimicking blood conditions after death, including thickened consistency and increased acidity.
The expert also studied the way that blood transfers to textiles in various conditions and compared it to the bloodstains on the Shroud of Turin with a microscope.
The immunologist, who has studied the shroud for years, believes that this is a revealing element that can help provide context for Jesus’ burial conditions — specifically, for what he calls ‘the washing hypothesis,’ according to the study.
A previous study of the shroud, done in 1998, concluded that if a body was indeed enveloped in the cloth, it was washed before burial.
The serum halos are only visible if wounds begin to clot before touching the surface. If the body were washed or cleaned, the stains wouldn’t be as prominent.
Biblical passages suggest that the Jewish burial customs observed prohibited the washing of bodies that suffered violent deaths, with the belief that blood should not be separated from the physical body in the case of murder.
Countless studies about the Shroud of Turin have been conducted across the centuries since it surfaced, and skeptics have suggested various theories about the authenticity of the shroud itself and the biblical account.
One such recent inquiry into the iconic cloth is that it was not the messiah’s post-mortem mode, but rather, it was used to swathe an artist’s chiseled Christ-like copy, a study suggested.
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