Just in time for Christmas? Sarcophagus possibly belonging to Saint Nicholas discovered in Turkey

Archaeologists in Turkey uncovered a limestone sarcophagus in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre, Antalya, which they believe could be linked to Saint Nicholas himself, known worldwide as Santa Claus.

CNN Türk, New York Post, and Anadolu reported on the finding, among other news outelets. 

 "We are very excited that a sarcophagus has been uncovered very close to the church believed to contain the tomb of Saint Nicholas," said the excavation leader, associate Professor Dr. Ebru Fatma Fındık. Fındık is cited by Halk TV. 

The sarcophagus was found within a two-story structure that borders the church's courtyard to the south. It is approximately two meters long, with a buried section estimated to be 1.5 to 2 meters high. The team has so far uncovered the lid and a small part of the trough, with plans to excavate further in hopes of finding inscriptions that could confirm the identity of the burial within the sarcophagus.

"Currently, we can see the lid part of the sarcophagus and we have uncovered a small part of its trough. In the future, we will dig deeper and reveal it completely," Fındık stated, according to Anadolu.

The discovery may clarify questions regarding the burial place of Saint Nicholas. Historical sources from the 5th and 6th centuries indicate that Saint Nicholas was buried near the sacred temenos area of Myra, the ancient city where Demre now stands. "We can propose with this sarcophagus that the saint was indeed buried near the sacred temenos of the city of Myra, that is, near the necropolis area," Fındık explained.

The sarcophagus is made of local limestone and features a slightly raised gabled roof. It belongs to a group of unadorned sarcophagi common in the region. Before reaching the sarcophagus, the excavation team encountered numerous pieces of baked clay lamps and animal bones, leading them to believe it is a burial site.

"We estimate that the sarcophagus was covered by this layer of gravel and sand brought by a flood or tsunami at a date we do not yet know, and for that reason, it was able to reach the present day in a solid way," Fındık is quoted as saying by T24.

"Our greatest expectation is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus, especially. This will allow us to illuminate the burial inside the sarcophagus, and we will be able to express much more clearly which period the sarcophagus belongs to," Fındık stated.

Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop in Myra. He became the inspiration for the popular image of Santa Claus. After his death on December 6, he was buried in Myra, and the Church of Saint Nicholas was built near his burial site. The church attracts over 500,000 visitors annually for faith tourism.

The church has been yielding significant archaeological finds for years. In the 2022 excavations, the naos, or main part of the church from the 3rd-4th century where Saint Nicholas lived and walked, was uncovered, reports Hürriyet. Unique wall paintings related to the life of Saint Nicholas are found in the burial chamber south of the church.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq