Dust on the Shroud of Turin - Pollen and Human DNA
A recent study of dust particles from the Shroud of Turin has found that they contain pollen from plants that grow in many areas of the world, and also contain human DNA from many countries.
There are plant species from Central Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Eastern Asia, and the Americas.
The human DNA data comes from individuals from Europe, North and East Africa, the Middle East, and India.
“Such diversity does not exclude a Medieval origin in Europe but it would be also compatible with the historic path followed by the Turin Shroud during its presumed journey from the Near East. Furthermore, the results raise the possibility of an Indian manufacture of the linen cloth.”
It must be emphasized that the dust being examined in this study was not from the Shroud fabric itself, nor from the blood stains on the Shroud. It was dust which was lodged between the Shroud and its backing cloth. The question remains as to whether this dust is of modern or ancient origin.
The unexpected amount of human DNA from India could hint at Indian origin of the fabric, or simply that an individual from India came into contact with the cloth.
It would be more useful if DNA from the Shroud fabric itself could be examined to determine the origin of the linen plants which were used to manufacture the cloth.
Unfortunately, the experiments necessary to establish a geographical location for the manufacture of the cloth have not been conducted.
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