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There was another theory - one supposedly confirmed by a Spanish archaeologist on the subject of Carbon 14 dating and the potential inaccuracies involved in its use.

His theory is that organic material like the cloth the Shroud is made of, supports the growth of bacteria on its surface. The bacterial population grows and dies, and as it does so, it creates deposits of fresh carbon on the surface of the organic material. After time, this builds up - a layer of fresh carbon along with more carbon 14. This layer is referred to as "bioplastic". Unless the bioplastic is removed PRIOR to the carbon sampling, the sample tested includes contaminated carbon material which provides a more recent date for the tested material than it really has.

When the tests on the organic material taken from the Shroud were made, this effect was unknown.

True. Tom spoke of this. Now, combine that.......with the idiotic choice of material to test.........combined with the inherent weakness in carbon-14 dating methodologies (see link in my original replay; it is discussed in there a bit), and any hullabaloo about the so-called "carbon dating" of the Shroud should have been put to bed a LONG time ago. Of course, there are far too many who refuse to be distracted by little things like "science" or "facts".