'Is this Santa Claus' tomb?'': Archaeologists unearth St Nicholas’ grave hidden in Turkey

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh

Hidden Tomb

[{"selector":"#anim-80becf99-0568-41e9-888b-7a26afd513f3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.7384424482028464%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Buried deep in Turkey, a limestone sarcophagus tied to St Nicholas sparks intrigue and mystery.

Sacred Clues

[{"selector":"#anim-45addf2b-09c0-4bbe-851b-876663ea629f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.015072844542015%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Mosaic floors and Byzantine ruins hint at a long-lost holy site, says Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik.

Buried Legacy

[{"selector":"#anim-300aed80-6809-4970-83eb-7e3ae91f9019 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(11.430481613901128%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The sarcophagus' design—a raised lid and pitched roof—matches regional burial styles of antiquity.

Submerged Basilica

[{"selector":"#anim-b91cadfb-ea41-4095-b1d7-61063024c129 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.148713948643177%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] An ancient basilica , submerged by the Mediterranean, held the foundation for St Nicholas’ church.

Miracle Saint

[{"selector":"#anim-448c89a3-458c-4c32-9023-bef33bae98e6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.154843201912502%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Stories depict St Nicholas gifting gold to save three girls from despair, the inspiration for Santa Claus.

Name Evolution

[{"selector":"#anim-a7f20b52-429c-4a71-aa53-06134d19310b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-3.853692930945899%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] “ Sinter Klaas ,” Dutch for Saint Nicholas, evolved into Santa Claus, preserving the saint’s legacy globally.

Historic Search

[{"selector":"#anim-95cd32da-edb2-4146-aa33-2ef4c85d5f51 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.383167517639325%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Electronic surveys revealed voids beneath St Nicholas Church , leading to deeper excavations.

UNESCO Treasure

[{"selector":"#anim-37cf9aff-e3bc-4f76-a496-8ce5058e1399 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.603693053822123%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The site, a UNESCO Heritage location since 1982 , continues to reveal its historical and spiritual wealth.

Disputed Relics

Archaeologists question if bones in Bari belong to St Nicholas or an anonymous priest, deepening the mystery.

Related Stories ‘3,100°F temperature with glass clouds’: This exoplanet should not exist ‘22,000-mile cable to space’: Scientists say this ‘sky ladder’ may soon be real 'Portal to other worlds': Black Holes could be Universe’s hidden doorways, claims new study Milk genes Neanderthals? New study reveals a surprising ancestral twist