Much to the surprise of researchers, they also discovered a significant quantity of human DNA.
This can be best explained as a probable consequence of centuries of handling by art aficionados.
But more worrying, microbes able to make paper degrade over extended periods were also present, highlighting of restorers’ efforts.
In short, the study is essentially a proof-of-concept exercise, underlying how microbiomes may eventually reveal unexpected histories of certain artworks in addition to detecting forgeries.
