X‐ray fluorescence investigation of the shroud of turin
Abstract
We present results of X‐ray fluorescence measurements on the Shroud of Turin. Quantitative estimates are given for the observed trace quantities of calcium, iron and strontium, and detection limits are established for other elements of potential interest. The calcium and strontium appear as uniform background distributions. Iron traces are observed in all of the data spectra but their local concentrations vary. Comparisons between image and off‐image areas reveal no differences, within the precision limits of the data, that would indicate the presence of pigments or dyes containing high‐C elements. In ‘blood’ stain regions the measurements show significantly higher concentrations of iron. However, the data do not allow a unique identification of the stain's origin. Quantitative comparisons are made between the shroud results and similar measurements on whole blood and Fe 2 O 3 stains.
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Small dark spots visible in small quantities are small iron oxide particles.
“Small dark spots were visible in small quantities and do not reflect at all under UV light, which leads us to believe these are small iron oxide particles (Morris et al. 1980;Schwalbe and Rogers 1982).”
From Investigating a Dated Piece of the Shroud of Turin (2010) · cites this paper as Morris et al. 1980
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Physics and chemistry of the shroud of turin
Schwalbe, L. A., & Rogers, R. N. (1982) · Analytica Chimica Acta · doi:10.1016/s0003-2670(01)85263-6 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Self-citationA Chemical Investigation of the Shroud of Turin
Heller, J., & Adler, A. (1981) · doi:10.1080/00085030.1981.10756882 · Cited by 87
Spectral properties of the Shroud of Turin.
Pellicori, S. (1980) · Applied Optics · doi:10.1364/ao.19.001913 · Cited by 45
Life-size Reproduction of the Shroud of Turin and its Image
Garlaschelli, L. (2010) · Journal of Imaging Science and Technology · doi:10.2352/j.imagingsci.technol.2010.54.4.040301 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Meacham, W., Alcock, J., Bucklin, R., Burridge, K., Cole, J. R., Dent, R., Jackson, J., Mccrone, W., Maloney, P. C., Mueller, M. M., et al. (1983) · Current Anthropology · doi:10.1086/202996 · Cited by 25
Scientific investigation of the Shroud of Turin.
Jumper, E., & Mottern, R. W. (1980) · Applied Optics · doi:10.1364/ao.19.001909 · Cited by 24
Investigating a Dated Piece of the Shroud of Turin
Freer-Waters, R. A., & Timothy Jull, A. J. (2010) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200056277 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“Small dark spots were visible in small quantities and do not reflect at all under UV light, which leads us to believe these are small iron oxide particles (Morris et al. 1980; Schwalbe and Rogers 1982).”
BackgroundSuperficial and Shroud-like coloration of linen by short laser pulses in the vacuum ultraviolet.
Lazzaro, P. D., Murra, D., Nichelatti, E., Santoni, A., & Baldacchini, G. (2012) · Applied Optics · doi:10.1364/ao.51.008567 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Deep Ultraviolet Radiation Simulates the Turin Shroud Image
Lazzaro, P. D., Murra, D., Santoni, A., Fanti, G., Nichelatti, E., & Baldacchini, G. (2010) · Journal of Imaging Science and Technology · doi:10.2352/j.imagingsci.technol.2010.54.4.040302 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Blood reinforced by pigments in the reddish stains of the Turin Shroud
Fanti, G., & Zagotto, G. (2017) · Journal of Cultural Heritage · doi:10.1016/j.culher.2016.12.012 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Protein on Cloths: Evaluation of Analytical Techniques
van Dalen, G. (2000) · doi:10.1366/0003702001951020 · Cited by 8
New Insights on Blood Evidence from the Turin Shroud Consistent with Jesus Christ’s Tortures
Giulio, F. (2024) · Archives of Hematology Case Reports and Reviews · doi:10.17352/ahcrr.000044 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
van der Hoeven, A. A. M. (2015) · Open Journal of Applied Sciences · doi:10.4236/ojapps.2015.511070 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“706 of normal human blood features such as the presence of red blood cells [2]-[4], hemoglobin [4] [5], porphyrin [3] [6] [7], iron [8], serum albumin [7], primate immunoglobin [3] [9] [10], and erythrocyte antigens A and B [3].”
BackgroundInfluentialThe Shroud of Turin and the singlet oxygen fallacy
Allen, N. (1999) · doi:10.1179/030801899678588 · Cited by 4
The Shroud of Turin: An Overview of the Archaeological Scientific Studies
Karapanagiotis, I. (2025) · Textiles · doi:10.3390/textiles5010008 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“(6) Metal elements: XRF spectra were taken from various spots of the Shroud, leading to the detections of calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), and iron (Fe) [42].”
InfluentialThermodynamics and historical relevance of a jetting thermometer made of Chinese zisha ceramic
Lee, V., & Attinger, D. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep28609 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
New coincidence between Shroud of Turin and Sudarium of Oviedo
Barta, C., Álvarez, R., Ordóñez, A., Sánchez, A., & García, J. (2015) · doi:10.1051/shsconf/20151500008 · Cited by 3
“9a) and the homologous results obtained by the X-ray fluorescence conducted in the Shroud [12], Fig.”
BackgroundInfluentialThe Shroud Body Image Generation. Immanent or Transcendent Action?
Fazio, G. (2019) · Scientia et Fides · doi:10.12775/setf.2020.003 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Feasibility Study for Neutron Beam Investigation of the Turin Shroud
Rogante, M., & Rosta, L. (2016) · International Journal of New Technology and Research · doi:10.31871/ijntr.2.3.23 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
A possible origin for the Turin shroud image.
Clarkson, J. (1983) · Medical Hypotheses · doi:10.1016/0306-9877(83)90027-0 · Cited by 2
Díaz, J. A. (2013) · Natural Science · doi:10.4236/ns.2013.510135 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“not compatible with a painted image [3-12].”
The Role of Pectins in the Body Image Formation on the Turin Shroud
Jaworski, J. (2025) · International Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.11648/j.ija.20251302.15
- Authors
- Morris, R. A., Schwalbe, L. A., & London, J. R.
- Venue
- X-Ray Spectrometry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1980-04
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 40-47
- ISSN
- 0049-8246 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-4539
- OpenAlex
- W2074979545
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 25.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- X-Ray Spectrometry (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Radiation › X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
- Keywords
- Shroud of Turin, X-ray fluorescence, trace elements, calcium, iron, strontium, bloodstains, detection limit
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