---
title: "The Genetic Archive of the Shroud of Turin: What the Fibers of the Ancient Cloth Reveal"
description: "Scientists conducted a new genetic analysis of the Shroud of Turin and discovered a unique biological archive in its fibers 🧬. The study revealed DNA from New World plants and animals, confirming the centuries-long travels of the relic, but does not reveal the mystery of its origin 🔍."
date: 2026-08-05T05:14:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/genetic-archive-of-the-shroud-of-turin-what-the-fibers-of-the-ancient-cloth-reveal
tags: [turin-shroud, dna-analysis, archaeology, scientific-reports, noemi-procopio]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# The Genetic Archive of the Shroud of Turin: What the Fibers of the Ancient Cloth Reveal

![Shroud of Turin: detailed image of ancient fabric with a figure imprint, studied in the context of the genetic archive of fibers](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/05/geneticheskii-arhiv-turinskoi-plashchanitsy-chto-skryvaiut-volokna/geneticheskii-arhiv-turinskoi-plashchanitsy-chto-skryvaiut-volokna-1.webp)

The Shroud of Turin, one of the most enigmatic artifacts in history, has once again become the subject of intense scientific scrutiny. This time, researchers did not attempt to prove or disprove its authenticity. Instead, they transformed the ancient cloth into a unique biological archive, telling the story of its centuries-long journey.

A team of scientists led by Professor of Forensics at the University of Lancashire, Noemi Procopio, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the relic's fibers. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, involved specialists from the Universities of Padua, Pavia, Turin, and Perugia.

### Metagenomic Approach Instead of Standard Tests

Traditional methods for investigating historical textiles often focus on finding a specific trace or determining the age of the material. However, in this case, scientists chose a metagenomic approach. This allowed them to identify not just a single biological trace, but an entire ecosystem of organisms that left their genetic imprint on the canvas over the centuries.

The analysis revealed that the cloth contains a complex microbiological ecosystem. Unlike ordinary dust, the shroud contains bacteria and fungi characteristic of human skin microflora. This indicates that many people of different origins came into contact with the relic, leaving their mitochondrial DNA lines behind.

Furthermore, salt-tolerant microorganisms, including halophilic archaea, were found in the fibers. Their presence points to specific conditions for the preservation of the material, possibly related to salting, as well as the fact that the cloth was exposed to high concentrations of salts.

### The Global Journey of the Artifact

The most intriguing result of the study was the spectrum of plant and animal DNA. Genetic analysis revealed traces that cannot be explained if the shroud is viewed as a static object stored in one place.

Scientists identified DNA from cultivated plants, including wheat, carrots, as well as corn, bananas, and peanuts. The presence of genetic material from corn and peanuts — plants of the New World — as well as tropical fruits like bananas, confirms that the accumulation of biological material continued actively during the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period.

The list of discovered organisms also includes domestic animals: cattle, pigs, chickens, cats, and dogs. The DNA of the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum) deserves special mention, linking the artifact to maritime regions.

### A Dynamic Archive Instead of an Answer to the Eternal Question

It is important to understand the limitations of this study. Scientists note that the discovered genetic "cocktail" does not provide a direct answer to the question of the exact age of the Shroud of Turin or its authenticity. A century of intensive use, public displays, and inevitable contamination makes it impossible to isolate "primary" DNA that could belong to the very first period of the cloth's creation.

However, forensic genomics and proteomics have allowed for the reconstruction of the artifact's ecological and cultural "journey." Rather than being just an ancient cloth, the shroud appears as a dynamic biological archive. It has recorded details of touch, methods of transport, storage locations, and the natural environment over many centuries, reflecting changes in humidity, temperature, and conditions of display to the faithful.