Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Coffin of ‘Santa Claus’ discovered by archaeologists after 1,600 years

Home> News> World News

Published 17:28 8 Dec 2024 GMT

Coffin of ‘Santa Claus’ discovered by archaeologists after 1,600 years

Archaeologists believe they may have found the original Santa Claus' sarcophagus

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

A coffin has been uncovered by archaeologists in Turkey that is believed to belong to the original Santa Claus.

Now, of course, we don't mean the sleigh-driving, reindeer-owning Santa but rather the early Christian bishop Saint Nicholas who inspired the jolly Christmas presenter-giver.

Situated in Demre, Antalya, Turkey, the St Nicholas Church has been an excavation site since 1989 for researchers, as it is believed to be the final resting place of Saint Nichols of Myra (now Demre), who passed away in 343 AD.

He was Greek, and he also inspired both Santa Claus and Sinterklaas, a similar Dutch festive figure.

Advert

History states that the bishop helped the less fortunate, going as far as to spend his inheritance on helping those in need.

Researchers have made a huge discovery (Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Researchers have made a huge discovery (Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Saint Nicholas also gave secret gifts, leaving coins in people's shoes - an overall good bloke, really.

But it looks like archaeologists have stumbled across something to do with the popular religious figure.

He died and was buried at the site of his church, though Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II requested that an even bigger church be built on the same site in his honour.

Advert

To preserve his remains, they were moved into a sarcophagus that was then placed at the new church.

Saint Nick's remains already have a lot of history behind them, after his bones were taken from his sarcophagus by Italian thieves in 1087, while sailors also took the remaining bones during the first Crusade.

Though some bones were found in Bari and Venice that matched the same person, it is unclear if it belonged to the Saint, Heritage Daily reports.

A limestone sarcophagus was uncovered (Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A limestone sarcophagus was uncovered (Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images)

But now, in 2024, archaeologists have discovered something in the church's two-story annexe - a limestone sarcophagus, and they believe it could belong to Saint Nicholas.

Advert

The dig was led by Ebru Fatma Findik, an Associate Professor at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University.

Researchers on site that were part of the 'Legacy for the Future Project' said that the stone coffin was six-feet deep, and only realised they were on a burial site when they uncovered animal bones and parts of clay lamps, the professor said to Turkiye Today.

It has not yet been confirmed if the coffin belongs to Santa Claus himself, as the location for his actual tomb has long been theorised about.

The coffin's lid has been fully unearthed (Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The coffin's lid has been fully unearthed (Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Findik explained: "Some sources suggest that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra.

Advert

"The fact that we have found a sarcophagus near the church, which is thought to house his tomb, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for.

"This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place of St. Nicholas," the researcher added.

So far though, only the lid has been unearthed, while a small section of the burian chamber is visible, as researchers keep searching for clues.

"Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus,

"This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates to," the Associate Professor highlighted, also saying that more details about their findings are expected going into the new year.

Featured Image Credit: Zehra Tekeci/Anadolu via Getty Images

Topics: History, Christmas, News, World News

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

X

@joshnair10

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Scientists reveal Santa Claus’ 'real face' for the first time in 1,700 years
  • 4,000-year-old Ancient Egyptian tomb discovered by archaeologists with sacrificial table found inside
  • Mystery of deformed body found in lead coffin under Notre Dame that baffled scientists for years finally solved
  • Archaeologists discover sealed burial chamber in ancient tomb dating back 2,800 years

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Man, 92, found guilty of murder of woman nearly 60 years ago in UK's 'longest cold case'

    75-year-old Louisa Dunne was murdered in her Bristol home in 1967

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    'Marriage destroyer' holiday hotspot where Brits 'can't stop cheating' revealed

    Time to cancel those flights

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Brit ranked no.733 in world won't receive £99k prize money despite shock first round win at Wimbledon

    Oliver Tarvet won't see the money because of a sporting rule

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Police in frantic search for victim's head after reality star girlfriend charged with murder

    Police believe he was killed nearly two weeks ago now

    News