DNA Analysis of Shroud of Turin Offers New Clues, Researchers Say

A recent analysis of fibers from the Shroud of Turin, the linen cloth believed to have wrapped the body of Jesus, has revealed genetic material that researchers say aligns with the artifact's biblical origins. The study, published in Scientific Reports, utilized advanced sequencing technology to examine fibers collected in 1978, building on previous research from 2015.

The Italian research team detected a rare human genetic lineage predominantly found in the Near East, particularly among the Druze people of the Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. They also identified salt-loving microorganisms, suggesting the cloth may have been preserved or stored in a saline environment, such as near the Dead Sea.

Vatican News reported that these findings "seem to confirm a sojourn of the Shroud in the Middle East and in a saline environment, such as near the Dead Sea, adding another piece to the mosaic of scientific evidence supporting the Shroud’s authenticity."

However, the researchers emphasized that the DNA evidence cannot definitively prove the cloth covered Jesus or determine its age, acknowledging that radiocarbon dating in the 1980s suggested a medieval origin. The Shroud's first documented public appearance was in France in the 1350s.

The study's lead researcher, Dr. Gianni Barcaccia of the University of Padua, aimed to uncover biological clues about the Shroud's journey. Previous research in 2015 analyzed particles and fibers, uncovering DNA from plant species and multiple human lineages. Those findings indicated Near Eastern and Indian lineages, though researchers cautioned that this could be due to centuries of handling.

The latest analysis revealed significant modern contamination alongside microbes, fungi, plants, and other biological material. A dominant maternal DNA lineage found in some samples, previously linked to Ashkenazi Jews, was later identified as belonging to Professor Pierluigi Baima Bollone, who collected the samples in 1978, suggesting contamination during handling.

While other maternal lineages, including H1b (common in Europe) and H2a2, were detected, the rare H33 lineage, found in Near Eastern groups like the Druze, was also identified. This lineage had been previously noted in 2015.

The researchers faced challenges in reconstructing minor South Asian lineages reported in 2015 and noted an unusually large number of mitochondrial DNA variants, indicating contact with numerous individuals. This extensive handling made it difficult to isolate DNA definitively belonging to the person originally wrapped in the cloth.

The presence of salt-loving archaea and fungi like Debaryomyces hansenii also suggested saline conditions, but their origin remained unclear. The broadened search for biological material linked some traces to broad regions including the Near East, Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Americas, but specific locations or timeframes could not be determined.

The wider biological evidence, including Mediterranean coral, domesticated animals, and crops originating from various continents, complicated claims of a first-century Judean origin. The strongest plant signal came from carrots resembling European varieties from the 15th and 16th centuries. Maize, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and peanuts were found to have arrived in Europe only after Columbus's voyages, suggesting much of the biological material accumulated in later centuries.

Notably, no plant was exclusive to the Levant, and flora typical of the Middle East was absent. Protein testing revealed no ancient biological material, and radiocarbon dating of threads reflected documented repairs rather than the original cloth's age. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that the evidence remains inconclusive regarding whether the Shroud was created in medieval Europe or dates back approximately 2,000 years, and it does not prove a connection to Jesus.