Really, they don't talk to those women who understand fabric from the raw textile.
When I first read about the shroud of Turin, I didn't care much for the image, but for the fabric. Because if a length of linen could last 2000 years, that was a miracle itself. That it was a ***wide*** piece of fabric was an indication against the authenticity--ancient looms were narrow. Not that it could not have been supernatural, but everyone focused on the image and I could never get the scientific details about the piece of fabric.
Not ALL ancient looms were narrow.
I doubt that this is high on James Carville's priority list. /hijack>
Cheers!