A tomb has been uncovered during excavations at the two-story annexes of the Church of Saint Nicholas in the Demre district of Antalya.
Excavations around the church, believed to have been constructed near the burial site of Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, who inspired the figure known as “Santa Claus,” have been ongoing since 1989 at the Saint Nicholas Memorial Museum. This year, the site was included in the “Legacy for the Future Project” by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr. Ebru Fatma Fındık from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, excavation work over the past two years has led to the discovery of this sarcophagus.
Fındık explained that in 2022, early phases of the basilica were uncovered. She stated, “Our excavations continue to provide new scientific data. As part of the project, we are conducting studies on a two-story annex, approximately 20 meters long, located on the southern boundary of the church courtyard. During exploratory drilling within this structure, we encountered a surprising tomb, which delighted us greatly.”
She noted that the tomb, made of local limestone, is part of a group with no decorative elements. The lid is slightly elevated and shaped like a gable roof, and the sarcophagus itself is roughly 2 meters long, with an estimated depth of 1.5-2 meters below the surface. According to initial observations, its design resembles other sarcophagi in the region.
Fındık also shared that prior to reaching the tomb, they discovered animal bones and numerous fragments of terracotta oil lamps, suggesting that this area may have been a burial site.
“Our greatest hope is to find an inscription on the tomb,” she said. “Such an inscription would not only help us understand the burial but also provide clear information about the tombs period. Currently, we can see the lid and have partially uncovered the main body. In the coming months, we will excavate further to reveal the sarcophagus entirely. It is too early to determine its exact date; it would be more accurate to wait until scientific studies are completed.”
One of the primary objectives of the ongoing research is to shed light on the burial site of Saint Nicholas, an important figure in the Christian world Fındık emphasized that various hypotheses have been proposed by researchers regarding his burial location, which remains uncertain.
“Some historical sources suggest that Saint Nicholas was buried near a sacred area in the city of Myra. The discovery of a tomb near the church, thought to house his burial site, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area in question. We can say that this finding offers archaeological evidence supporting historical accounts of Saint Nicholas’s burial location being within the city’s sacred precinct,” she concluded.
