Old Coffin of ‘Santa Claus’, Hoping to ‘Find an Inscription on the Sarcophagus’ Archaeologists recently discovered a limestone sarcophagus from the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey. Researchers believed it was the burial site of the Greek bishop Saint Nicholas,

Amid the palm trees and sparkling Mediterranean waters on southwest Turkiye’s so-called “Turquoise Coast,” the real St. Nicholas is a hometown hero beloved by Santa-smitten children across the globe.

The coffin of St. Nicholas — considered the primary inspiration for Santa Claus due to his generosity — may have been discovered at an archeological dig site. A sarcophagus was discovered in a two-story annex of the Church of St.