Archaeologists are conducting carbon dating tests on a recently discovered sarcophagus near the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Antalya, Turkey. This find has sparked global interest as it potentially holds the remains of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the inspiration behind Santa Claus.
The limestone sarcophagus was unearthed in December 2024 during excavations at the historic St. Nicholas Church. The team, led by Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, is hopeful that inscriptions on the sarcophagus will reveal the identity of the individual buried inside and clarify the exact period it dates from.
The St. Nicholas Church in Demre has been a site of ongoing archaeological work since 1989. The church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts numerous tourists annually, especially from Russia, drawn to its spiritual significance and historical importance.