Santa's Grave Discovered? Experts May Have Found Tomb of Saint Nicholas

Have they finally found the final stop of Santa’s sleigh?

A group of archaeologists say they may have just uncovered the sarcophagus of Saint Nicholas, the historical figure who served as the inspiration for Santa Claus, in a discovery 1,600 years in the making.

It was made by a team excavating St. Nicholas Church in Antalya, Turkey. The potential remains were a surprise find, hidden six feet deep in the church’s two-story annex.

Though historians have long believed that the church served as the final resting place for Saint Nicholas, they say that the discovery of the six-foot-long limestone sarcophagus is the first hard evidence of ol’ Saint Nick’s original tomb.

Now it’s time to dig it out of those jingle bell rocks, unwrap it and see if the researchers have "claus" for celebration… or if their discovery will be a lump of coal.

Santa’s Last Stop

"While drilling inside the structure, we encountered a surprise sarcophagus," said associate professor Ebru Fatma Findik, who is leading the excavation team. 

They say the sarcophagus’s existence is a miracle in and of itself. Buried deep underground, the 1,600-year-old tomb likely only continues to exist in the 21st century thanks to some sort of flood or tsunami which covered it in sand and mud which helped preserve it to the modern era. Findik continues:

"The discovery of a sarcophagus near the church, which is believed to be the resting place of St. Nicholas, could indicate that this site may indeed be the sacred area in question. We can say that we have reached archaeological evidence that confirms historical sources about St. Nicholas' burial place being in the city's sacred area. The fact that a sarcophagus has been unearthed very close to the church that is thought to contain the tomb of St. Nicholas excites us greatly.”

Now, the archaeologists hope to confirm their findings by locating an inscription or some other writings on the sarcophagus itself. And then… they may even open it up.

“Currently, we can see the lid part of the sarcophagus and we have uncovered a small part of its trough,” explains Findik. “In the future, we will dig deeper and reveal it completely."

Who is Saint Nicholas?

This is a potentially huge discovery because Saint Nicholas is one of the most widely known saints, and the man who served as the real world inspiration for Santa Claus.

You may have heard of him. He is known the world over as the jolly, red-cheeked, white-bearded portly chap with a wardrobe full of red and white suits. Every December 24th, he and his cadre of reindeer fly around the world and deliver gifts to good girls and boys.

As the global bringer of childhood happiness, Santa Claus is one of the most recognizable characters in popular culture… but did you know he’s actually based on the historical figure Nicholas of Myra, who lived in what is now Turkey during the third and fourth centuries?

Though there are few confirmed facts about the real Saint Nicholas now, we do know he was a well-known figure in his time for his widespread generosity and kindness, particularly towards children.

A devout Christian, Nicholas was made Bishop of Myra as a young man, and rumors spread in his lifetime of his miracle work, including the giving of dowries of gold to three poor girls who otherwise would have been sold into sex slavery, and the resurrection of a trio of children who were murdered by a butcher who intended to sell their flesh as pork. Historically, Nicholas is believed to have attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and it is likely he was persecuted and tortured for his faith by the Roman emperor Diocletian. 

From Sinterklaas to Santa Claus

Nicholas died December 6, 343 AD. Upon his death, his tomb in Myra became a favorite destination for pilgrims, and his legend grew in Europe throughout the centuries. He was particularly revered in the Netherlands, where he was known as Sinterklaas, his feast day – December 6th – a favorite holiday of the Dutch.

Dutch colonists took their Sinterklaas traditions with them when they traveled to New Amsterdam – what is now New York City – in the 17th century. And it was in America during the following three centuries where Sinterklaas fully evolved into Santa Claus, embraced by Americans as the favored seasonal gift-giver.

Santa Claus is a figure widely celebrated around the world, and the legend of the real man he’s based on has endured nearly 2,000 years. Now, archaeologists believe they’ve found his burial place… and they’re eager to unearth the truth. 

What do you think they’ll find at Saint Nick’s alleged resting place? And what do you think they’ll find within? Should we all break out the cookies and milk in celebration of the discovery of Santa’s sarcophagus… or is this going to turn out to be a ho ho hoax?