Archaeologists find surprising sarcophagus in Türkiye

Fox News features in its article an exciting archaeological discovery in Türkiye that may finally pinpoint the resting place of St. Nicholas, the inspiration behind the modern-day figure of Santa Claus. 

While Santa Claus is often depicted soaring through the night sky on Christmas Eve, a team of archaeologists may have uncovered a sarcophagus containing the remains of the saint whose legacy of generosity is still celebrated worldwide more than 1,600 years later.

"We believe that we have encountered a sarcophagus to be in situ [original position] for the first time," said associate professor Ebru Fatma Findik, who is leading the excavation team from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University's Department of Art History.

The discovery took place at St. Nicholas Church in the Demre district of Antalya, Türkiye, as part of an excavation launched by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The sarcophagus was discovered in the two-story annex of the church, which is thought to be the original burial site of Saint Nicholas, a bishop who lived in the ancient city of Myra during the fourth century.

"While drilling inside the structure, we encountered a surprise sarcophagus," Findik said.

"We are working inside the 20-meter-long, two-story structure that borders the church courtyard from the south. This work, among the undecorated sarcophagus group, is made of local stone and features a slightly high barrel roof," Findik explained. The lid has a handle, and the underground portion of the approximately 2-meter-long sarcophagus is estimated to be 1.5-2 meters high.

"According to initial evaluations, its similarity to the types of sarcophagi in the region is striking," Findik added. She further clarified to A News, a Turkish news agency, that the precise location of Saint Nicholas' burial is still uncertain.

"Some historical sources mention that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra," Findik told A News.

"The discovery of a sarcophagus near the church, which is believed to be the resting place of St. Nicholas, could suggest that this site is indeed the sacred area mentioned. We can say that we have found archaeological evidence that supports historical sources about St. Nicholas' burial being in the city's sacred area."

Before uncovering the sarcophagus, the team came across other noteworthy artifacts.

By Naila Huseynova