Pollens on the 'Shroud': A Study in Deception

JOE NICKELL

espite its exposure as an artistic forgery, the Shroud of (which bears the D front and back images of an apparently crucified man) is still promoted as the burial cloth of by a small, but vocal, group of religious enthusiasts, including a few scientists. They continue to cite the "presence of Pales- tinian pollen grains on the Holy Shroud" (De Vincenzo 1993) as a major counterargument to the carbon-14 test results, which indicated the The cloth was of medieval manufacture (Damon et al. 1989; Nickell 1989, 1991). Unfortunately, it has been shown to now appears that the pollen study was an be an artistic forgery, exercise in deception—self-deception, at best, if but a small group of not outright scientific fraud. enthusiasts still cite The analysis was conducted by a Swiss criminologist named Max Frei-Sulzer (1913- the supposed 1983). Frei once taught an evening course in presence of microscopical techniques in the Zurich Univer- Palestinian pollen as sity extension system; subsequently he was a major counter- asked to create a crime laboratory for the local police, which he began in 1950 (Palenik 1982). argument. It now In 1973, as a consultant to a shroud commission appears that the Frei was granted permission to take samples pollen study was an from the cloth. This involved pressing small strips of sticky tape onto the cloth's surface, exercise either in then peeling them off—coated with surface self-deception or debris—and sticking them on microscope slides. outright scientific During the next two years, between jobs as fraud. a freelance criminologist, Frei microscopically examined his tapes and in March 1976 issued a report, claiming he had found certain pollens that "could only have originated from plants that grew exclusively in Palestine at the time of Christ." Frei was also quoted as asserting: "I can state with certainty that the Turin shroud dates from the time of Christ." (Humber 1978: 196; Wilcox 1977:167). Apparently, however, he

Summer 1994 area of the Anatolian steppe that includes Urfa (Edessa, in ancient times)—both in Turkey (Frei-Sulzer 1979). He reportedly traveled through the Near East and Turkey "in different floral seasons" in order to obtain pollen specimens to compare with those on the shroud (Frei-Sulzer 1982). The discovery of these addi- tional pollens seemed strikingly to confirm a "theory" of the shroud's history advanced by . This is an important issue for shroud advocates since the cloth lacks any provenance before the 1350s. Wilson's conjectural history of the shroud begins with the notion that it was the ancient , also known as the Mandylion. According to a fourth-century legend, Jesus miraculously imprinted his face on a cloth as a gift to Edessan King Abgar, in "consolation" for his affliction with leprosy. The Mandylion remained in ing the frontal image. Edessa until 943, when it was seized was either "misquoted" or withdrew by the Byzantines and installed at this rash statement, because shroud Constantinople. From there, this researcher Ian Wilson (1979:80) soon theory holds, it was eventually taken insisted, "Frei makes no such claims," to France by crusaders (Wilson 1979: describing him as a "cautious indi- 126-191). vidual." However, not only is the story of Subsequently, Frei had also Abgar and Jesus demonstrably apoc- claimed, according to wire-service ryphal, but the Mandylion bore only reports, that "he found traces of a facial portrait, not the twofold ointment made from a type of aloe imprint of a crucified man. It is there- that grows only on the island of fore not surprising that historians are Socotra, off the coast of South Yemen. quick to dismiss Wilson's scenario Ancient texts refer to the ointment (Nickell 1987: 41-48). as having been applied to corpses Nevertheless, Frei's pollen evi- before burial, Frei said." These alleged dence gave Wilson's ideas new cred- findings—consistent with the refer- ibility. In return, Wilson devoted a ence to aloes in the Gospel of John chapter to Frei in his book and gave (19:39)—were presented to the Arch- an extended list of 49 "Plant Species bishop of Turin just in time to make of Pollen Samples from the Shroud (as 1981 Easter news (Dart 1981). identified by Dr. Max Frei)" in an Earlier, Frei had also claimed to appendix (Wilson 1979: 77-81, 293- have found pollens on the shroud that 298). (Later Frei [1982] claimed to have were characteristic of two other non- identified at least 56 different pollen European regions, including Istanbul types.) (formerly Constantinople) and the Still, Wilson did concede "that Frei

380 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 18 ••MHH Photomicrograph of slide 6-B/d from the Max Frei collection. While this detail shows two or three of the many pollen grains found on that tape (which contains much more pollen than all of the other 25 tapes combined), they are from the lead end where Frei's gloves left the myriad of cotton fibers shown crisscrossing the area. Clean gloves should have left no pollens in this area. McCrone labels this—and a suspicious smear of several hundred pollens on the body of the same tape—"contamination." (Photomicrograph courtesy of Paul C. Moloney, ASSIST) was using palynology, the science of have been kept in the course of its pollen analysis, in a particularly history. Another complication is that unusual way." As he explained: "Nor- plants that originally had one specific mally a core is taken from some regional derivation are today found all sedimentary deposit, and by simple over the globe" (Wilson 1979: 79-80). analysis of the pollens at different Related criticisms came from var- levels, a picture can be built up of ious quarters. Some faulted Frei's changes of flora in one region over work for apparently failing to use a given period." He continued: "By control samples. Another problem contrast Frei was trying to use the was the possibility of contamination. method to determine through which According to an article in Science 81, geographical regions one given object, even Shroud of Turin Research Pro- the shroud, had moved, the significant ject (STURP) scientists "say the clues being the identification on the pollens might have been carried by the object of pollen from plants of spe- wind or deposited by the shroud's cifically limited geographical distribu- visitors; its presence does not prove tion." Wilson elaborated: "One of the that the shroud was ever in the Holy complications of the method is that Land" (Burden 1981). many plants are common to virtually However, Smithsonian botanist all areas in which the Shroud might Richard H. Eyde (1986) observed that

Summer 1994 381 the real problem with Frei's work was McCrone (1980; 1981) is the noted that he claimed to do that which was microanalyst who discovered paint suspect. Eyde noted that pollen iden- pigments—notably red ochre—on the tification "is not to species save in rare shroud image. cases; rather it is to this or that 'type' Schafersman (1982a) subsequently of [pollen] grain—or to genus or elaborated on his views, terming Frei's species-group." He added: "This is so pollen data "incredible" and casting well known, that the burden of proof suspicion on how the data "supports is on the one who says he's identified in exquisite detail a highly speculative a species by its pollen. The identifier history of the 'shroud's' journey that must say what traits separate the no reputable historian or scientist identified grain from grains of related endorses because there is no inde- plants." pendent evidence for it." Schafersman Other problems with Frei's cred- pointedly observed that at the Inter- ibility were forthcoming. Before his national Congress on the Turin death in 1983, his reputation suffered Shroud in 1978, Frei publicly endorsed a severe blow when, representing Wilson's shroud/Mandylion theory. himself as a handwriting expert, he Schafersman went on to explain pronounced as genuine the notorious how unlikely it was, given the evi- "Hitler diaries," which were soon ex- dence of the shroud's exclusively posed as third-rate forgeries (Brown- European history, that 33 Middle ing 1983). Eastern pollens could have reached the In the meantime, an even more cloth, particularly only pollen from serious question had arisen about his Palestine, Istanbul, and the Anatolian pollen evidence—not just about its steppe. With such selectivity, Scha- interpretation, but concerning its very fersman stated, "these would be existence. Frei's alleged findings were miraculous winds indeed." In an article at variance with those of STURP, in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Schafers- whose members had taken their own man (1982b) called for an investigation sticky-tape samples from the shroud of Frei's work, for comparison not in 1978 (at which time Frei took a only with STURP's tapes but with second set of samples). Now, it is not "duplicate and independent sticky- true—as shroud enthusiast Daniel C. tape samples of pollen and dust" that Scavone (1989: 44-46) reports (with Schafersman wished to be taken from characteristic inaccuracy)—that "the the shroud. STURP scientists were shocked when Although new samples were not they examined the tapes for pollens taken, after Frei's death another and not one pollen was found on any organization, the Association of of them." However, STURP did report Scientists and Scholars International that "very few pollen were observed for the Shroud of Turin (ASSIST), on the tape samples in the present obtained Frei's tape samples. His project" (Schwalbe and Rogers 1982). widow, Gertrude Frei-Sulzer, first Probably the first person to pub- loaned five tapes to ASSIST. I was licly suggest Frei might be guilty of present when these were made avail- deception was shroud critic Steven D. able for microscopical viewing in mid- Schafersman, a professional micro- February 1986 at a shroud conference paleontologist. He, Walter McCrone, at Elizabethtown College, Elizabeth- and I each gave presentations on the town, Pennsylvania; McCrone was shroud at an international microscopy the first to examine one of the tapes conference held in Chicago in 1982. and soon announced: "There's a

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—1 ft Walter McCrone, regarded by many as the world's leading micro- analyst, discovered paint pigments on the Shroud of Turin a n d subse- quently examined pollen specimens allegedly removed from the same linen cloth. His motto is "Think small." (Photo by Joseph Barabe, copyright McCrone Scientific Photography)

pollen" (Maloney 1989). parts and floral debris, such as an- Two years later, ASSIST acquired thers, filaments, and vascular tissue Frei's collection of tapes from his on at least three of the tapes." This widow and son and invited two was held to support a hypothesis that scientists—McCrone and STURP's "actual flowers had been laid down on Alan Adler—to verify that the samples the Shroud at some time during its were taken from the Shroud of Turin. history," which in turn "would explain With the proceedings being video- the high percentage of floral pollens taped, as each slide was handed to on the Shroud as described by Dr. McCrone he observed it under the Frei" (Flaherty 1989). light microscope while simultaneously Interestingly, ASSIST's Paul Mal- shroud researchers observed the oney (1994) reports that the pollens microscope's field on video monitors "are mostly located in what I call the McCrone described linen fibers 'lead' (as opposed to the 'body') of the (including scorched fibers) and various tapes," supposedly attributable to contaminants, including synthetic Frei's method of handling the tape, by fibers, particles of iron oxide (red which he picked up additional pollens ochre), and a few pollens. from between the threads. On the Termed "one of the most surpris- other hand, McCrone (who did not ing revelations of the day" was the examine the leads during his mara- discovery of "various kinds of plant thon inspection) is suspicious of the

Summer 1994 383 excessive pollens reported in those in France and Italy. I'm afraid that unlikely areas, stating that, at best, Max Frei was like so many other they would represent "contamination" members of the STURP group who of some sort (McCrone 1994). were so convinced by their faith the Shroud was real that they were just Indeed, McCrone's overall assess- as convinced that whatever was ment of the pollens is at variance with needed on the Shroud to prove that that of ASSIST. When I headed the fact must be there, and if they didn't symposium on forgery at the Manu- literally find it they regarded this script Society's 1993 meeting in Santa as their error rather than a reality Fe, I invited him to give a presentation. in terms of what the Shroud actu- The evening before, we had a lengthy ally shows. discussion, during which the distin- guished microanalyst confided to me McCrone added (1993b): his opinion of Frei's pollen evidence. This he did with some obvious pain, I have looked back over my notes explaining that "Max" had been a and see that I mentioned, margi- friend of his. At my prodding, in two nally, the presence of very few subsequent letters he elaborated in pollens. Only 10 plus or minus on some detail on his observations. all of the tapes other than 6 Bd which has dozens of them. I also Explaining that he "spent a long day noted that those on 6 Bd were examining the 26 Frei tapes in order located within 2-3 square milli- to be able to say that they had meters of the tape. At the time I definitely come from the Turin remember saying diplomatically shroud," McCrone stated: "It was not that they were "contamination." I too difficult to conclude that they had didn't in fact, identify those pollen, since it was easy to find red ochre on so I don't know whether they are linen fibers much the same as I had Palestinian or Italian. It is very seen them on my samples." He con- doubtful that they were present on the Shroud itself and sampled by tinued (1993a): Max. The fact that they are then present indicates that the tape had At the same time I was interested to be pulled back so that they could to note that there were very few be introduced and I see no good pollen grains; perhaps one per reason for that except skullduggery. square cm, which was pretty much A skilled skulldugger would, of what I had observed on my set of course, pick off all but one or two tapes. Incidentally I had talked to of those contaminating pollen Max Frei at one of our London grains. Microscopy meetings a year or two earlier and had asked him what the So I can't be sure that Max really concentration of pollen was, and he adulterated the tapes from that bit did say about one per square cm. of evidence, but the fact that most Considering that figure and the of the pollen he found supposedly number of tapes and their length came from the Palestinian area even there could not have been much though it had spent the last 600 more than 100 pollen grains all total years or so bouncing around in on his or my tapes. It is difficult to France and Italy is more than a little see how he could have found an surprising. assemblage of pollens representing 49 different species of Palestinian Finally, he added this bombshell: pollens on a piece of cloth that has spent the last 650 years of its life One further point with respect to openly exhibited and much handled Max which I haven't mentioned

384 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 18 anywhere, anytime to anybody is International, 1(3): 3-7, June. based on a statement made by his Humber, Thomas. 1978. The Sacred Shroud. counterpart in Basel as head of the New York: Pocket Books. Police Crime Laboratory there that Maloney, Paul. 1989. ASSIST announces the Max had been several times found acquiring of the Max Frei collection for Shroud research. ASSIST Newsletter, guilty and was censured by the 1(1): 1-3. Police hierarchy in Switzerland for, . 1994. Letter to , January shall we say overenthusiastic inter- 12. pretation of his evidence. His Basel McCrone, Walter C. 1980, 1981. Light counterpart had been on the inves- Microscopical Study of the Turin tigating committee and expressed "Shroud," Microscope, 28:105-128 and 29: surprise in a letter to me that Max 19-38.) was able to continue in his position . 1993a. Letter to Joe Nickell, June 11. as Head of the Police Crime Lab in . 1993b. Letter to Joe Nickell, June 30. Zurich. . 1994. Phone conversation with Joe Nickell, January 24. Nickell, Joe. 1987. Inquest on the Shroud of The implications of McCrone's Turin, updated ed. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prome- revelations are devastating to authen- theus Books. . 1989. Unshrouding a mystery: Sci- ticity advocates—or should be. How- ence, pseudoscience, and the cloth of ever, experience shows they are never Turin, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, 13: 296-299, dissuaded by negative evidence. Spring. . 1991. Les preuves scientifiques que le Linceul de Turin date du Moyen age. References Science et Vie (France), July 6-17. Palenik, Skip. 1982. Microscopic trace Browning, Michael. 1983. Historian waffles evidence: The overlooked clue, Part 2 on Hitler "Diaries," Lexington Herald- ("Max Frei—Sherlock Holmes with a Leader (Lexington, Ky.), April 26. Microscope"), Microscope, 30: 163-169. Burden, Annette. 1981. Shroud of mystery. Scavone, Daniel C. 1989. The Shroud of Turin Science 81, November, pp. 77-82. (Great Mysteries series). San Diego, Damon, P. E., et al. 1989. Radiocarbon dating Calif.: Greenhaven Press. of the Shroud of Turin. Nature, 337: 6 1 1 - Schafersman, Steven. 1982a. Letter to the 615. editor, Microscope, 30: 344-352. Dart, John. 1981. Scientists can't prove or . 1982b. Science, the public, and the deny its link to Jesus. Los Angeles Times, Shroud of Turin. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, April 18. 6(3): 37-56, Spring. De Vincenzo, Victor. 1993. 12 reasons why Schwalbe, L. A., and R. N. Rogers. 1982. I cannot accept the carbon-14 test results Physics and chemistry of the Shroud of on the Holy Shroud of Turin. Shroud Turin: A summary of the 1978 investi- Sources, September/October, pp. 1-6. gation. Analytica Chimica Acta, 135: 47, Eyde, Richard H. 1986. Letter to Joe Nickell, n. 4. March 18. (See also his letter to National Wilcox, Robert K. 1977. Shroud. New York: Geographic, February 1985.) Macmillan. Flaherty, Thomas. 1989. "Verification of the Wilson, Ian. 1979. The Shroud of Turin: The Max Frei Collection." ASSIST Newsletter, Burial Cloth of Jesus Christ? New York: 1(1): 4-5. Image Books. Frei-Sulzer, Max. 1979. Wissenschaftliche Probleme um das Grabtuch von Turin. Joe Nickell is the author of many Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau, 32-34: 133-135. investigative hooks, including Inquest on . 1982. Nine years of palynological the Shroud of Turin (Prometheus Books, studies on the Shroud. Shroud Spectrum 1983, 1987).

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