Skin Debris on the Hairs of Holy Maria- Magdalena: A SEM-EDX Analysis

We have found, by SEM observations and EDX-analyses, numerous skin debris kept on the surfaces of the hairs of Maria-Magdalena. Some of them are of very recent origin, but most are more ancient. A few of them, located near cut extremities of hairs, are those of the fingers that cut these hairs (that were initially longer). Some of these skin debris are dirty or/and salted. We observed also on some hairs quasi-intact dandruff piles. We have determined the soap (a “black soap”, potassium-rich) that washed the hairs. Finally we have found among hairs and studied in details two samples of epidermal micro-plaques, two pieces of skin shreds (one of them being conserved by salt), and one sample of scalp shred containing osseous material. Holy Maria-Magdalena (3?-63?) is the most abundantly cited woman in the Four Gospels. According to the French “tradition des Saints de Provence” [1], she landed on (in 43?) the French (The Gaule at this era) Mediterranean shores, in a region corresponding to the current part of Les-SaintesMaries-de-la-mer. Some relics (bones, flesh and hairs) of Maria-Magdalena were kept in the SaintMaximin basilica, where a large lock of the presumed Maria-Magdalena „s hairs is arranged in a dedicated reliquary. We have obtained from the parish priest of the SaintMaximin basilica some hairs (they are cut hairs) of this lock, for scientific purposes (microscopic examination and chemical analyses). Our first published study of these hairs is a genetic study [2]: by DNA extraction from the hair number 10, that had a capillary bulb, we established that it corresponds to the chromosomal XX formula of a Jewish woman. Desquamated epithelial cells-named as “skin-debris” (SD) were initially studied by SEM-EDX [3, 4] in a forensic science perspective. In the present study we describe in details, in a similar way to that of the work we have realized for the Turin Shroud [5], the SDs deposited on the hairs of Maria-Magdalena. MATERIAL AND METHODS The ten hairs (numbers 1-10) – of red colour [6] – of Maria-Magdalena studied were loaded on sterile dedicated scotch-tapes (Figure 1). They were examined further by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), for the SDs deposited on their hair surfaces. Figure 1 : Optical view (3x) of hairs numbers 4 to 10 (plus 7‟ and 7‟‟) located on a sterile scotch-tape, itself loaded on the platine of the electron microscope. A : location of skin shreds (below hair number 8) ; B : location of the skin shred covered by salt (above hair number 10). Some of the hairs were examined in confocal stereoscopic micrography. All the ten hairs were examined by the SEM apparatus FEI model Quanta FEG (an environmental electron microscope apparatus). Elemental analyses were achieved by using Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), the SEM microscope used being equipped with the probe model X-flash 6/30. Both LFD (Large Field Detector) and CBS (Circular Back Scattering) procedures were used, the last one to better detecting heavy elements. Each elemental analysis is given in the form of a spectrum, with kiloelectrons / Volts (ke/V) on the Skin Debris on the Hairs of Holy Maria-Magdalena: A SEM-EDX Analysis http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 9 – February 2020 (02) 58 abscissa and elemental peak heights (cps/eV) in ordinates. High resolution spectra are obtained by enhancing the cps/eV values along to the ordinates axis. EDX-mapping were obtained (power : 20 kV ; distance : 9.9 mm ; acquisition time : 15 min.) for the main elements of the SDs : carbon, oxygen, sulphur, calcium and chlorine. Results And Discussion All the SDs observed on the hair surfaces, but also dandruffs and epidermal micro-plaques, are illustrated on the following figures. Recent SDs Figure 2 concerns a first SD, located on hair number 2. The SEM photograph of this figure shows that it is a relatively thin SD, with well delimited outlines ; it is constituted of a coat of angular epithelial cells, with very few deposits of mineral particles on the surface. Figure 2 : A first SD located on some part of hair number 2. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 800x) of the SD. The black point, located on the SD (outside of the hair surface), indicates the area where EDX analysis is realized. Below : spectrum at the black point. C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; Na : sodium ; Si : silicium ; S : sulphur ; K : potassium ; Ca (two peaks) : calcium. Elemental analysis establishes that it is mainly compounded of organic material (carbon and oxygen), with a little peak of sulphur ; there are calcium, potassium and sodium more little peaks. Traces of silicium and of (some part) of calcium are indicative of mineral deposition on the SD surface. By its aspect and composition, this SD was loaded recently on the hair surface. Because the experimentors worked with masks and gloves, we deduce that this SD originates from the fingers of the Saint-Maximin basilica priest (F. Racine), who came out the hairs of the reliquary. Figure 3 shows two other recent SDs (the first being of little size and the second, very more voluminous, overflowing the hair surface) located on other parts of the hair number 2 surface. Figure 3 : A second and a third SDs, located in other parts of hair number 2. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 2 400x) of the second SD. Below : SEM photograph (in CBS, 2000x) of the third SD. Ancient SDs Figure 4 shows a SD located transversally on some part of the hair number 9 surface. Though its spectrum is similar to that of the SD illustrated on figure 2, its morphological aspect is very different : it is very narrow, with relatively thick outlines, and we do not observe individual cells on the SD surface. We deduce that this SD is an ancient SD. Skin Debris on the Hairs of Holy Maria-Magdalena: A SEM-EDX Analysis http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 9 – February 2020 (02) 59 Figure 5 shows two other ancient SDs, located near or at the border of two different parts of hair number 7. Figure 6 shows an ancient SD, located near one cut extremity of hair number 6. Because of its unusual location, we infer that it belongs to the fingers of the individual who cut this hair. It is also the case (Figure 7) for the four ancient SDs located near the cut extremity of hair number 8. Because of its preliminary abundance in ancient SDs at one of its extremity, the hair number 8 surface was systematically explored for further SDs (from one extremity to the other) ; six other ancient SDs were found : the first (Figure 8) is a little ancient SD, with thick outlines. The second (Figure 9) is another little ancient SD, located near the hair 8 border. The third and the fourth (Figure 10) are two little ancient SDs located on each side of the hair 8 borders. The fifth (Figure 11) is a relatively voluminous (of more than 25μm of maximal length) ancient SD, located on the hair 8 border. The sixth (Figure 12) is a more voluminous (of more than 39μm of maximal length) ancient SD, of very fine thickness and with folded layers. Figure 4 : A first ancient SD, located on hair number 9 . Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 2 000x) of the SD. Below : spectrum at the black point . C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; Na : sodium ; S : sulphur ; Cl : chlorine ; K : potassium ; Ca : calcium. Figure 5 : A second and a third ancient SDs, located on two parts of hair number 7. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 2000x) of the second SD. Below: SEM photograph (in CBS, 3000x) of the third SD. Skin Debris on the Hairs of Holy Maria-Magdalena: A SEM-EDX Analysis http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 9 – February 2020 (02) 60 Figure 6 : An ancient SD located at the extremity of hair number 6. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 1000x) of the hair extremity. Below : spectrum at the black point. C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; Na : sodium ; S (two peaks) : sulphur ; Cl (traces) : chlorine ; K : potassium ; Ca (two peaks) : calcium. Figure 7 : Four (1-4) ancient SDs located near one extremity of hair number 8. Above : SEM photograph (in LFD, 600x) of the hair extremity. Below : common spectrum of the 1-4 SDs. Below : C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; S : sulphur ; Cl : chlorine ; K : potassium ; Ca (two peaks) : calcium. Figure 8 : The first ancient SD found along the hair number 8. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 1200x) of the SD. Below : resolutive spectrum at the black point. C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; S : sulphur ; Cl : chlorine ; K : potassium; Ca : calcium. Figure 9 : The second ancient SD found along the hair number 8. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 1200x) of the SD. Below : spectrum at the black point. C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; Si : silicium ; S : sulphur ; K : potassium ; Ca : calcium. Skin Debris on the Hairs of Holy Maria-Magdalena: A SEM-EDX Analysis http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 9 – February 2020 (02) 61 Figure 10 : The third and the fourth ancient SDs found along the hair number 8. Above : SEM photograph (in CBS, 1000x) of the SDs (1 : the third SD ; 2 : the fourth SD). Below : resolution spectra of 1 and 2 at the black points. C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; S : sulphur ; K : potassium ; Ca (two

We have obtained from the parish priest of the Saint-Maximin basilica some hairs (they are cut hairs) of this lock, for scientific purposes (microscopic examination and chemical analyses). Our first published study of these hairs is a genetic study [2]: by DNA extraction from the hair number 10, that had a capillary bulb, we established that it corresponds to the chromosomal XX formula of a Jewish woman.
Desquamated epithelial cells-named as "skin-debris" (SD) were initially studied by SEM-EDX [3,4] in a forensic science perspective. In the present study we describe in details, in a similar way to that of the work we have realized for the Turin Shroud [5], the SDs deposited on the hairs of Maria-Magdalena.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The ten hairs (numbers 1-10)of red colour [6] of Maria-Magdalena studied were loaded on sterile dedicated scotch-tapes ( Figure 1). They were examined further by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), for the SDs deposited on their hair surfaces. abscissa and elemental peak heights (cps/eV) in ordinates. High resolution spectra are obtained by enhancing the cps/eV values along to the ordinates axis.
EDX-mapping were obtained (power : 20 kV ; distance : 9.9 mm ; acquisition time : 15 min.) for the main elements of the SDs : carbon, oxygen, sulphur, calcium and chlorine.

Results And Discussion
All the SDs observed on the hair surfaces, but also dandruffs and epidermal micro-plaques, are illustrated on the following figures. Figure 2 concerns a first SD, located on hair number 2. The SEM photograph of this figure shows that it is a relatively thin SD, with well delimited outlines ; it is constituted of a coat of angular epithelial cells, with very few deposits of mineral particles on the surface. Elemental analysis establishes that it is mainly compounded of organic material (carbon and oxygen), with a little peak of sulphur ; there are calcium, potassium and sodium more little peaks. Traces of silicium and of (some part) of calcium are indicative of mineral deposition on the SD surface.

Recent SDs
By its aspect and composition, this SD was loaded recently on the hair surface. Because the experimentors worked with masks and gloves, we deduce that this SD originates from the fingers of the Saint-Maximin basilica priest (F. Racine), who came out the hairs of the reliquary. Figure 3 shows two other recent SDs (the first being of little size and the second, very more voluminous, overflowing the hair surface) located on other parts of the hair number 2 surface.  Figure 4 shows a SD located transversally on some part of the hair number 9 surface. Though its spectrum is similar to that of the SD illustrated on figure 2, its morphological aspect is very different : it is very narrow, with relatively thick outlines, and we do not observe individual cells on the SD surface. We deduce that this SD is an ancient SD. Figure 5 shows two other ancient SDs, located near or at the border of two different parts of hair number 7. Figure 6 shows an ancient SD, located near one cut extremity of hair number 6. Because of its unusual location, we infer that it belongs to the fingers of the individual who cut this hair. It is also the case ( Figure  7) for the four ancient SDs located near the cut extremity of hair number 8.

Ancient SDs
Because of its preliminary abundance in ancient SDs at one of its extremity, the hair number 8 surface was systematically explored for further SDs (from one extremity to the other) ; six other ancient SDs were found : the first (Figure 8) is a little ancient SD, with thick outlines. The second ( Figure 9) is another little ancient SD, located near the hair 8 border. The third and the fourth ( Figure 10) are two little ancient SDs located on each side of the hair 8 borders. The fifth ( Figure 11) is a relatively voluminous (of more than 25µm of maximal length) ancient SD, located on the hair 8 border. The sixth ( Figure 12) is a more voluminous (of more than 39µm of maximal length) ancient SD, of very fine thickness and with folded layers.          Figure 13 shows one of the recent SD located on hair number 2 ; but its surface is covered by numerous and relatively great mineral particles. Elemental analysis of a set of these particles establishes that they are of two sorts : particles of calcium carbonate, and particles of an aluminosilicate that contains iron (a typical mineral of clays). So this recent SD is "dirty", because somehow contaminated with the earth ground. Figure 14 shows an ancient SD, also located in another part of hair number 2. Its surface is covered by little mineral particles ; some of them, which are dull-to-electrons, are cubic crystals of salt (ClNa). So, this ancient SD is said as "salted". Figure 15 shows two adjacent ancient SDs, that are located on some part of hair number 3. One of them is salted, and with calcite deposits on its surface.

Dirty and salted SDs
The SEM photograph of Figure 16 shows one part of hair number 1, where numerous deposits (Table 1)  are loaded. a micro-sphere of iron oxide 5 two particles of gypsum 6 a mineral particle of an aluminosilicate with iron    . Formation ② is an ancient salted SD.
Formation ① corresponds to a little rod of steatite. Steatite is a soft rock , with a similar composition to that of the talc [7]. Its nickname is "soap "rock"", because it is obvious that it was used as soap in ancient times. Figure 17 shows the colour, the aspect and the composition of a steatite fragment of reference (Minéraux du Brésil, Paris) ; by its aspect in SEM and by its elemental composition in EDX, it is identical to formation ①.  Figure 19) ; they indicate that the hairs were in a maritime environment [9]. Formation 6 is a particle of an aluminosilicate with iron.

Dandruffs.
Contrary to S, which are layers of corneous dead cells, dandruffs are voluminous piles of nucleated cells that are arranged together to confer some thickness to the structure [10]. Figure 20 shows a first dandruff, located at the border of some part of hair number 9. It is a thick (about 4 µm of maximal height) structure, where bumps of cellular piles are well visible, of a maximal length of more that 12 µm ; the dandruff outline is clearly delimitated from the hair surface.
Its spectrum is similar to that of an SD, but chlorine and potassium peaks are relatively more elevated.  On that location, but on the hair surface, is a more voluminous (about 30 µm of maximal length) but fine SD that is of the folded type (like that shown on the photography of figure 12).
Above this SD on the hair surface is a group of hematies. For at least three of them, the biconcave disk characteristic aspect is clearly distinguishable.
Spectras of figure 22, which are obtained in similar conditions, permit useful comparisons between elemental compositions of the hair, of the dandruff and of the SD. Constitutive elements (carbon and oxygen) of the organic matter and sulphur (of cysteine and cystine disulfur bridges of the keratin), calcium, potassium, chlorine and sodium, are the same in the three cases, but their proportions differ between the three : The proportions of carbon and sulphur are more elevated in the hair, compared to those of the dandruff and the SD.  Upper spectrum : that of 2 (the SD). C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; Na : sodium ; Si : silicium ; S : sulphur ; Cl : chlorine ; K : potassium ; Ca : calcium.
As already signalled, the proportions of chlorine and potassium are more elevated in the dandruff than those of the SD.
In the dandruff and the SD, the simultaneous presence of chlorine and sodium is indicative of the salt (sodium chloride) of the sweat.
On the upper photograph of Figure 23, we can distinguish in the group at least six (h1 to h6) hematies. On the lower photograph of this figure are indicated the precise measurement of the diameters (of about 3 µm) of three of them.
Although too little to correspond to the standard measurement of human hematies, their reduced diameters is indicative of their oldness (because of the well-known relationship between decrease of hematy diameter and time).  Figure 24 shows a little (of 10 µm) particle of squared form, fitted near the border of some part of hair number 2. Its spectrum is similar to those of dandruffs and SDs, but with a relatively higher content of potassium (and of calcium).

Potassic soap
This is a residual fragment of black soap [11]. The black soap, that is a potassium-rich product, is a corporal soap that is used since many times in Turkish baths as a traditional soap (in North-Africa and in Maghreb countries) ; because of its wealth in potassium salts, it is applied under the form of a dough on the skin after a warm bath and permits the elimination of the dead skin debris. Figure 25 shows the colour, the aspect and the composition of a black soap wealth of reference (sold as "Beldi soap", a traditional product in Morocco). Its elementary composition, which corresponds mainly to organic matter, is very rich in potassium. Figure 26 shows a micelle [12] of black soap, located on the border of hair number 1. It is a little sphere (of about 30µm of diameter), for which elemental composition establishes that is a highly structured mixture of black soap material and organic matter (mainly that of the sebum). Figure 27 shows an example of a little dandruff (of about 15 µm of length), that is loaded on the border of some part of hair number 3. Its elemental composition establishes that it is soaked with black soap (and it contains numerous particles of calcium carbonate).   The photograph of Figure 28 represents the special observation of a scale fragment, on some part of hair number 6, that is partially pulled up to the hair and maintained on its surface by a fiber portion. Intact black soap fragments (at least six) and also calcium carbonate mineral particles are located at the periphery of the scale. Figure 29 shows, at the border of some part of hair number 4, a special concentration mass of ancient black soap (this product is on a bed of an iron-rich aluminosilicate and a calcium phosphate).
Some part of hair number 10 is covered by numerous and similar particles (with the appearance of a manufactured product) that are artefacts. One of them is shown on Figure 30 ; it is a little (of about 50µm of maximal dimension) particle, white-to-electrons and with angular outlines (there is evidence of partial destruction of the hair cortex at its level). Elemental analysis of this particle establishes that it is a grain of a powder of a modern detergent, rich in potassium sulphate and in soda (NaOH). This powder was likely used recently, to clean the interior of the reliquary glass.

Epiderm micro-plaques
The SEM photograph of Figure 31 shows an epidermal micro-plaque (of maximal diameter of about 150µm), located on the border of some part of the hair number 9. This micro-plaque is maintained here by some fibers of cotton (flat fibers of diameters of about 15-20 µm, with characteristic regular twists along the length of the fibers).
The polygonal outlines of epithelial cells that compound this epidermal micro-plaque are well seen by comparison of the two SEM photographs of Figure 32, which are taken in accordance with LFD and CBS procedures.
Elemental analysis of the micro-plaque establishes that it is constituted of carbon and oxygen (corresponding to organic material), of sulphur (that of keratine), of chlorine and sodium (those of the salt of the sweat) and of calcium.   Figure 33 shows the EDX-mapping of elements that constitute the micro-plaque, the hair and the fibers : . Carbon and oxygen maps establish that these two elements are more abundant in the hair and in the fibers than in the micro-plaque.
. Sulphur soap establishes that this element is more abundant in the hair, compared to the micro-plaque. . Chlorine is mainly concentrated in the microplaque.
The calcium map reveals only mineral particles of calcium carbonate that surround fibers 1 and 2 at their junction.
The SEM photograph of Figure 34 shows another epidermal micro-plaque (of more than 100 µm of length), located on the border of hair number 7. In this microplaque, individual cells are rarely with angular outlines : most of them are rolled up, as dessicated corneous cells. Their spectrum is that of typical epithelial cells.
In the false coloring representation proposed for this micro-plaque, hair is in red [6] and cells of the microplaque are in yellow-clear brown.  The upper image is a representation in false-colours of the below SEM photograph. Figure 35 shows some skin shreds, located on the scotch-tape at the proximity of one extremity of the hair number 8. A special characteristic of the hairs studied is their extreme dryness [13] ; so, when the hairs were loaded (in folding back them) on the scotch-tape, some of the relatively dense rests-like the pieces of skin shreds adhering to hairs were dropped on the scotch-tape at the proximity of the hairs where they were initially loaded (see figure 1 for the location of the skin shreds on the scotch-tape).

Some pieces of skin shreds
There are at least seven pieces of skin shreds at this location. The biggest one (of about 30 µm of greater dimension), numbered 6 , is of approximate triangular outlines ; it has a wrinkled surface. At least three hematies are visible at its left corner.
Near the superior edge of the triangle, we recognize a little fragment of a silk thread : at least five silk fiber portions, smooth and of cylindrical forms, are visible as longitudinally oriented along this silk thread.
Spectrum of 6 corresponds to that of a salted and potassic soap cleaned piece of a skin shred. One piece of a skin shred, enclosing a silk fiber, is conserved by salt crystals. This piece is located on the scotch-tape, above hair number 10 (see figure 1 for the localisation of this piece). The piece ( Figure  36) is a relatively great (of about 150 µm of width on 200 µm of length) elongated skin shred. Its surface is pleated. It surrounds a silk fiber, that is divided in silk fibrils in the middle part of the piece. At last four diatoms are visible on its surface. The middle, lower and left parts of the surface of the piece are covered by white-to-electrons mineral particles. The spectrum of its middle part ( Figure 37) is that of a salted and potassic soap cleaned piece of skin shred.  Silicium is characteristic of the diatom frustule ( Figure 40). Their presence indicates that the piece was in close contact to a contaminated water containing these sorts of micro-organisms.
The numerous white-to-electrons mineral particles that cover the most part of the piece (Figures 40 and  41) are crystals (of the cubic form) of salt (NaCl) ; they correspond to a fine powder of a manufactured product. As salt is one of the most ancient chemical product used to preserve meat [14].
We infer that their presencein numberon the surface of the piece signifies that the experimentor will is to preserve in a long term this sort of skin shred.

A small piece of scalp
The SEM photograph of Figure 43 shows a large plaque (of about 50 µm of length) that is stuck up the border of some part of hair number 9. This plaque (of about 15 µm of thickness) is constituted of at least three (C2, P and C1) stratified layers of cells. The C1 layer is an epidermal shred, that is detached from the below (dermic) P layer. It constitutes a more convincing evidence of a piece of scalp than that shown in [6].
Elemental composition of the P layer is that of a cellular layer of the previous forms ; but cellular outlines are not distinguishable both in CBS or in LFD, inside of the dermic layer.
In the false-colouring representation proposed for this piece of scalp, which is compounded of a basal thick dermic layer surmounted by a more thin exfoliated epidermal shred, hair is in red and the piece of scalp is in dark-brown.
The mineral particle number 2, located inside of the dermic layer, is of calcium phosphate ( Figure 44). The study of its elemental composition shows that it is constituted of hydroxyapatite, the mineral component of the osseous material. It is not surprising that a plaque of scalp contains some residual particles of hydroxyapatite, originating from the osseous material of the cranium. Lower photograph : SEM photograph (in CBS, 500x) of the piece (P). C1 and C2 are other parts of the piece. 1 : a silica particle ; 2 : a calcium phosphate particle ; 3 : a calcite particle. Below : spectrum at the black point of P. C : carbon ; O : oxygen ; Na : sodium ; Si : silicium ; S : sulphur ; Cl : chlorine ; Ca (two peaks) : calcium. The upper image is a representation in false-colours of the below SEM photograph.

Figure 44
:Study of the mineral particle number 2.
This particle is one of the numerous examples of calcium phosphate particles we found on the hair surfaces [8]. As another example, Figure 45 shows a group of calcium phosphate particles loaded on hair number 7.
The SEM photograph of Figure 46 shows an enhanced view of piece C1. It is a typical epidermal shred, with pores and pleats on its surface. For comparison Figure 47 shows an epidermal shred of reference (that originates from the face of a living 30 years old man [5], with characteristic pores and pleats.

Conclusion
We have observed numerous skin debris on the surface of Maria-Magdalena"s hairs. Some of them, located near cut extremities, are those of the fingers of the people who cut these hairs (that were initially longer) ; consequently, these skin debris dated from that of cutting.
Some of the skin debris are dirty, because we observed mineral ground particles on their surfaces. Some other hairs are salted, or/and coated with calcium carbonate and calcite particles.
We observed also, kept on some hairs, some quasiintact dandruff piles.
We have determined the soap that washed the hairs. Three different sorts of soap residual rests were identified ( Table  2): We identified only one steatite road, and the modern detergent particles are artefacts. The soap that was used to clean the hairs is an ancient black soap, potassium-rich.
Incidentally, we discovered on some part of hair number 10 (figures 22 and 23) one little group of hematies. Its dimensions are reduced compared to those of standard human hematies ; but they can be red blood cells of Maria-Magdalena, their dimension reductions being a consequence of their age.
We observed two samples of epidermal microplaques, stuck on the surfaces of hair numbers 9 and 7 respectively. While the morphology of epithelial is intact in the first micro-plaque, that of those of the second one is somehow that of corneous shrivelled cells.
Among the pieces of skin shreds studied, two of them are coated with silk thread or fibers. The surface of the largest of them is covered with a fine powder of salt (figures 40 and 41). That is an intentional conservative procedure, that was probably used for the preservation of the precious tissues of the "Noli me tangere" [15].
Finally we observed a true specimen of a scalp shred, with epidermal and dermic components, adhering to some part of hair number 9.

Aknowledgments
We thank Florian Racine , the priest of the Saint-Maximin basilica, who furnished to us some Maria-Magdalena "s hairs contained in the reliquary. Thank you also to Daniel Malnati for his continuous financial support.