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Published 12:54 01 Apr 2026 GMT
New DNA found on Shroud of Turin could 'confirm' existence of Jesus
New DNA found on the infamous Shroud of Turin could actually 'confirm' the real-life existence of Jesus Christ.
The Shroud is one of the most mysterious ancient relics with religious significance.
A (literal) shroud of linen cloth, it has an unmistakeable faint image on its front and back of a man many say bears a striking resemblance to traditional depictions of Jesus.
But the latest finding on the Shroud may finally be able to unlock its mystery.
What was the new DNA found on the Shroud of Turin?
According to an as-yet-reviewed study in the medical journal Bioarxiv, analysis of the shroud has revealed the presence of DNA; plants, animals and even people of Indian descent.
The team who analysed the shroud, which included Gianni Barcaccia at the University of Padova, wrote in the study: "Our findings highlight its (the shroud’s) preservation conditions and environmental interactions, offering valuable perspectives into the identified genetic variants, which originated from multiple biological sources."
The study sought to understand more about the shroud's genetic origins, so the team performed a 'genetic resurrection,' finding the shroud contained both modern and medieval DNA.
Perhaps the most interesting finding of the new study is that 40% of the collected DNA hailed back to Indian bloodlines.
This may mean that the Shroud was made of linen taken by the Romans back from the Indus Valley, or perhaps that the material used to make the Shroud originally hailed from the Indian subcontinent.
In review, the team concluded: "The DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin suggest the potentially extensive exposure of the cloth in the Mediterranean region and the possibility that the yarn was produced in India."
However this isn't a cut and dry case. Anders Götherström at Stockholm University in Sweden was not involved in the study, but has doubts about its findings.
He said; "I still see no reason to doubt that the shroud is French and from the 13th-14th century."
What's the history of the Shroud of Turin?
The Shroud of Turin is supposed by some to be the cloth that swaddled the body of Christ following his crucifixion.
The documented history of the mysterious Shroud dates all the way back to 1354, where it was first exhibited in Northern France. In 1578, it was moved to a new home in Turin, where it has remained ever since.
The Shroud now belongs to the Catholic Church. The Church itself, despite owning the item, has neither endorsed nor rejected the claims that its a relic from the time of Jesus' death.