New DNA study finds Near East genetic links in Shroud of Turin

A new DNA analysis of the Shroud of Turin has found genetic material linked to lineages mainly associated with the Near East, adding to the scientific debate over the origin of the disputed relic believed by some Christians to have wrapped Jesus after his crucifixion.

Scientific Reports published the peer-reviewed study on July 9, 2026. The research team, led by University of Padua geneticist Dr Gianni Barcaccia, analysed 12 samples taken from the Shroud during a 1978 investigation using advanced DNA sequencing techniques.

According to Daily Mail, the researchers detected a rare human genetic lineage found mainly in the Near East, particularly among populations in the