Author(s)

Gérard Lucotte¹, Thierry Thomasset²

¹Institute of Molecular Anthropology, Paris, France.
²Laboratory of Physico-Chemical Analyses, UST of Compiègne, France.

We have studied by optical microscopy and SEM-EDX lapis lazuli particles adhering to a sample of the Turin Shroud. A total number of seventy lapis lazuli particles (and sub-particles) were found on the surface of this sample, and were characterized in details: they are little particles (of between 0.1 and 15 μm of maximal length), of blue colour, and with a spectrum of chemical elements identical to that of the lapis Lazuli mineral. We hypothetise that these particles are residues of painting layers of lapis lazuli that covered initially the Turin Shroud.

Turin Shroud, Lapis Lazuli (LL) Particles, Optical and SEM-EDX Studies

Lucotte, G. and Thomasset, T. (2023) Lapis Lazuli Particles on the Turin Shroud: Microscopic Optical Studies and SEM-EDX Analyses. Archaeological Discovery, 11, 107-132. doi: 10.4236/ad.2023.112005.