A new DNA analysis of the Shroud of Turin has revealed that the yarn used to make the linen fabric may have originated from the Indus Valley region in ancient India. The shroud, measuring 4.4 metres long and 1.1 metres wide, is believed by some to have wrapped the body of Jesus after his crucifixion. It was first documented in France in 1354 and is now housed in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.
Researchers, including Gianni Barcaccia of the University of Padova, analysed material collected from the relic in 1978. Their study, posted on Bioarxiv and yet to be peer-reviewed, found that about 40 per cent of the human DNA on the shroud is from Indian lineages. The presence of this DNA is described as 'unexpected' and may be linked to historical interactions, such as the Romans importing linen from regions near the Indus Valley.
The analysis also identified a range of animal, plant and human contaminants on the shroud, including DNA from domestic animals like dogs, cats, chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and horses, as well as wild animals such as deer and rabbits. Plant DNA from carrots, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and wheat species was also detected. The presence of skin bacteria like Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus confirms intense handling by humans over the centuries.
The researchers noted that the shroud's contact with multiple individuals complicates efforts to identify its 'original DNA'. However, they concluded that the genetic and microbial evidence 'discloses a complex history of the Turin Shroud, reflecting interactions with a diverse array of individuals'. The study could not determine the age of the shroud.
