- Archaeologists believe that they have found the tomb of Saint Nicholas underneath a church in Demre, Turkey
- It could take months before experts can unearth the tomb and confirm that the remains are genuine
- Old Saint Nick were previously believed to have been smuggled to the Italian city of Bari by merchants
- Saint Nicholas, known for his genorosity, was turned into legend by Dutch migrants which then became the modern tale of Santa Claus
Turkish archaeologists look set to disappoint kids across the world this Christmas - as they have allegedly found the final resting place of Santa Claus.
Known globally as a jolly festive gift giver, Santa Claus has delighted children across the planet for centuries.
However, experts in the town of Demre in Southern Turkey have made a bleak discovery beneath a local church.
A previously undiscovered tomb there is thought to belong to Saint Nicholas - the original title of the man in the bright red suit.
Head of Antalya’s Monument Authority Cemil Karabayram, said that the discovery was made after electronic scans showed previously undiscovered gaps underneath the church.
“We believe this shrine has not been damaged at all, but it is quite difficult to get to it as there are mosaics on the floor,” Mr. Karabayram told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Karabayram now says he is optimistic about digging up Santa Claus - but perhaps not in time for Christmas.
The process of uncovering the remains may take a while longer thanks to the time-consuming task of scaling each tile one by one before removing them as a whole.
“We have obtained very good results but the real work starts now. We will reach the ground and maybe we will find the untouched body of Saint Nicholas,” he added.
It is thought that the tomb is almost fully intact but currently inaccessible due to the presence of stone reliefs that need to be preserved.
It is hoped that the discovery if proven, could boost tourism in the area.
Saint Nicholas was interred at the church in Demre when he died in 343 A.D, where he lay undisturbed until the 11th century.
Previously, the remains of St. Nicholas were believed to have then been smuggled to the Italian city of Bari by merchants in the year 1087.
However, Turkish experts have long disputed the claim, saying that the wrong bones were removed from the site.
Saint Nicholas of Myra was known for his generosity and held a reputation for gift-giving.
His legend became popular in 16th century Europe as Father Christmas.
Dutch migrants to the U.S. called their version of Saint Nicholas “Sinterklaas,” which over time morphed into the modern-day tale of Santa Claus.
