DNA analysis uncovers centuries of human and environmental traces on the Shroud of Turin

Using cutting-edge, PCR-free next-generation sequencing, researchers examined DNA embedded in the linen fibers of the Shroud of Turin from the 1978 official collection. The study, published in Scientific Reports, uncovered several human mitochondrial lineages alongside a complex microbiome of bacteria, fungi and salt-loving archaea. Traces of cultivated plants such as wheat, carrots, maize, bananas and peanuts, as well as animal DNA from cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats, were also present, together with DNA from Mediterranean red coral.

These biological signatures map the Shroud's long journey through different regions and contacts. While the data cannot resolve debates over the Shroud's age or authenticity, they demonstrate the power of forensic genomics to reveal hidden histories of treasured objects. The research was coordinated by Professor Noemi Procopio of the University of Lancashire and involved an international consortium of scientists.