The Tomb of Santa Claus ( St. Nicholas) Found in Demre, Turkiye!
A sarcophagus has been discovered during excavations in the two-story annexes of St. Nicholas ( Santa Claus)Church in the Demre district of Antalya. It is speculated that the sarcophagus might belong to St. Nicholas, widely known as Santa Claus.
Excavations around the St. Nicholas Memorial Museum, believed to have been built near the burial site of St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra who inspired the “Santa Claus” figure, have been ongoing since 1989. This year, the site was included in the Heritage for the Future Project by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Ebru Fatma Fındık from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, excavations over the past two years have unearthed the sarcophagus.
Assoc. Prof. Fındık told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they have been working in the two-story annexes of the church. She noted that in 2022, they revealed the early phases of the basilica associated with the church. “Our excavation work continues to provide new scientific data. As part of the project, we are conducting studies in the two-story annex that defines the southern boundary of the church’s courtyard, a structure approximately 20 meters long. During sondage work inside this structure, we encountered a surprising sarcophagus, which naturally thrilled us” she said.
Fındık explained that the sarcophagus, with a slightly raised gable roof and about 2 meters long, is buried at an estimated depth of 1.5-2 meters underground. “Our initial evaluations suggest that the sarcophagus resembles others found in the region,” she added.
She also noted that before reaching the sarcophagus, they encountered animal bones and numerous fragments of terracotta lamps, suggesting the area was a burial site. Work continues to fully uncover the sarcophagus.
Is there Scientific Proof for Santa’s Tomb (St. Nicholas)?
“Our greatest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus. This would not only help clarify the identity of the individual buried within. It also provide a clearer indication of the period to which the sarcophagus belongs. Currently, we can see the lid and a small part of the basin. As we dig deeper, we hope to fully reveal the sarcophagus. It is too early to precisely date the sarcophagus. It is best to wait for the completion of scientific studies before making any definitive statements” she explained.
Highlighting the significance of the discovery for regional history and the academic world, Fındık emphasized that one of the primary goals of the excavation is to address questions surrounding the burial site of St. Nicholas, a figure of great importance to the Christian world. She noted that there are differing scholarly views on the location of his grave.
“Some historical sources suggest that St. Nicholas ( Santa Claus)was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra. The discovery of a sarcophagus near the church. It is thought to be the site of his burial, indicates that this area might indeed be the sacred site in question. We believe we have reached archaeological evidence. The historical sources suggest the burial site of St. Nicholas was in the sacred area of the city“.