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the thickness of the fibers. Where there is image color, the color is completely within, and
the result of a caramel-like chemical change to, the otherwise clear evaporation
concentration layer.
The residue coating is expected from first century methods of linen manufacturing
described by the historian Pliny the Elder. The warp threads on the loom were coated
with starch as a lubricant. The cloth was then rinsed with soapwort to remove the starch
and laid out to dry. The bleaching of hanks of yarn before weaving is also consistent with
first century methods but not consistent with medieval European field bleaching of
finished cloth.
Today, the shroud is stored flat in a sealed, fireproof,
rare-atmosphere container with bullet proof glass in St.
John the Baptist Cathedral (Duomo di San Giovanni) in
Turin, Italy. The container is covered with a cloth so
that the shroud may not be viewed except during public
exhibitions.
Throughout history, the shroud has been stored rolled up or folded in various reliquaries.
And as mentioned earlier, there is evidence that it was once stored in an earthen jar.
The last exhibition was in 2000. At that time, the Papal Custodian, Cardinal Saverino
Poletto, announced that the next exhibition would be in 2025.
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