Analysis of micro-particles vacuumed from the Turin Shroud

Abstract

The results of some Turin Shroud particles (3 to 30 μm) examination are presented. A research was performed with the aim to classify the particles in order to correlate them with the environments where, from historical information, the Shroud resulted to have been exposed. Grains of pollen, flax and cotton fibers, mites, spores and fungi, mineral particles and particles related to body fluids were detected and classified. Attention has been focalized to the pollen grains, to discuss M. Frei's results, without forgetting a more general investigation aimed at evidencing new information for the Shroud studies. A few cotton fiber were found to be mixed with flax ones. Moreover, many mineral particles are compatible with the Jerusalem soil.