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Archaeologists in Turkey may be on the
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cusp of solving a mystery thousands of
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years in the making after they stumbled
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on a tomb beneath the ruins of an
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ancient church they believe contains the
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remains of Saint Nicholas known popular
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as Santa Claus. But before we start,
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don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit
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the notification bell.
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A portion of the site believed to
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contain the undamaged grave was
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discovered in street Nicholas Church
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located in Turkey's southern Antalya
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province. The Demre district in which
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the church is found is known to be the
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revered Christian saint's birthplace.
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The head of Antalya's monument
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authority, Cemal Karabayram, told the
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Turkish press the shrine was discovered
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during electronic surveys
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>> that showed gaps beneath the church. "We
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believe this shrine has not been damaged
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at all, but it is quite difficult to get
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to it as there are mosaics on the
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floor." [music] Karabayram told Hurriyet
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Daily News. "In the excavation process,
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archaeologists will have to loosen each
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tile [music] from the mosaics and remove
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them together in a mold." The claims
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over the 1,674-year-old [music]
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remains of Saint Nicholas would compete
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with differing narratives that place the
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original saint's relics as far away as
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Italy and Ireland. At the time of his
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AD, Saint Nicholas was interred at the
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church in [music] Demre, formerly known
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as Myra, where he lay undisturbed until
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the 11th century. [music]
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Then, according to different accounts
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from Italy at the time, his remains were
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taken during the Crusades to either
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Venice or Bari, Italy.
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>> One story, less widely believed, places
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the bones in an abandoned churchyard in
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southern Ireland after they were brought
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there by French knights. Most Catholic
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and Orthodox Christians accept that the
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Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Italy,
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is the final resting place of Santa
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Claus's remains. However, Turkish
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experts [music] are now claiming the
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wrong bones were removed and those taken
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abroad belong to an anonymous priest.
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Karabayram has [music] said he is very
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optimistic about uncovering Saint
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Nicholas's remains. He explained
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researchers [music] from eight differing
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fields of study were involved in the
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process of uncovering the grave. Santa
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Claus morphed from the third and fourth
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century Asia Minor bishop Saint Nicholas
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to the generous figure associated with
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the Christian holiday of Christmas he is
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today. The saint became popularized in
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16th century Europe when he became
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Father Christmas, known for giving
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presents to young children.
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Dutch arrivals to the United [music]
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States called their version of Saint
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Nicholas Sinterklaas, which later became
