Author(s)

Gérard Lucotte^1*, Thierry Thomasset², Thierry Deroin³

¹Institute of Molecular Anthropology, Paris, France.
²Laboratory of Physico-Chemical Analysis, UST of Compiègne, Compiègne, France.
³Department of Phanerogamy, Natural History Museum of Paris, Paris, France.

We have explored by optical microscopy and scanning electrons microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray fifteen particles located in a sample of the Face area of the Turin Shroud. They have the following peculiarities: they are alumino-silicate clays, with an elevated content (up to 56%) of iron; their sides are comprised between 1.5 μm and 19 μm; their forms are rounded or more elongated, but more often with angular outlines. When observable, their colours are red or red-brown. All these particles have a little quantity of the phosphorous element (up to 5%) in their compositions. The biggest ones show some morphological heterogeneity on their surfaces, suggesting that they are chipboards of some micro-organisms.

Turin Shroud, Face Area, Red Clays, Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray

Lucotte, G. , Thomasset, T. and Deroin, T. (2024) Iron-Rich Red Clays on the Turin Shroud: Optical Microscopy Studies and SEM-EDX Analyses. Archaeological Discovery, 12, 66-81. doi: 10.4236/ad.2024.121004.