Could
ancient bones suggest Santa
was real?
University of Oxford
Was St Nicholas, the
fourth century saint who inspired the iconography of Santa Claus, a legend or
was he a real person?
New Oxford University
research has revealed that bones long venerated as relics of the saint, do in
fact date from the right historical period.
One of the most
revered Orthodox Christian saints, the remains of St Nicholas have been held in
the Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Southern Puglia, since 1087, where they are
buried in a crypt beneath a marble alter.
Over the years relic fragments have been acquired by various churches around the world, calling into question how the bones can all be from the same person.
Over the years relic fragments have been acquired by various churches around the world, calling into question how the bones can all be from the same person.
Using a micro-sample
of bone fragment, Professor Tom Higham and Dr Georges Kazan, the Directors of
the Oxford Relics Cluster at Keble College's Advanced Studies Centre, have for
the first time tested one of these bones.
The radio carbon dating results pinpoint the relic's age to the fourth century AD -- the time that some historians allege that St Nicholas died (around 343 AD). The results suggest that the bones could in principle be authentic and belong to the saint.
The radio carbon dating results pinpoint the relic's age to the fourth century AD -- the time that some historians allege that St Nicholas died (around 343 AD). The results suggest that the bones could in principle be authentic and belong to the saint.
St Nicholas is thought to have lived in Myra, Asia Minor, which is now modern day Turkey.
According to legend he was a wealthy man who was widely known for his generosity, a trait that inspired the legend of Father Christmas as a bringer of gifts on Christmas Day.
Believed to have been persecuted by the Emperor Diocletian, the saint died in Myra, where his remains
became a focus of Christian devotion.
His remains are said to have been taken away by a group of Italian merchants and transported to Bari, where the bulk of them sit to this day in the Basilica di San Nicola.
His remains are said to have been taken away by a group of Italian merchants and transported to Bari, where the bulk of them sit to this day in the Basilica di San Nicola.
The bone analysed is
owned by Father Dennis O'Neill, of St. Martha of Bethany Church, Shrine of All
Saints in Morton Grove Illinois, USA.
The relic originally
came from Lyon in France but most of the bones believed to be from St Nicholas
are still preserved in Bari, with some in the Chiesa di San Nicolo al Lido in
Venice.
Fr.O'Neill has acquired his collection over many years, mainly from churches and private owners in Europe, and includes a relatively large bone fragment which has been identified as part of a human pelvis, believed to be a relic of St Nicholas.
Fr.O'Neill has acquired his collection over many years, mainly from churches and private owners in Europe, and includes a relatively large bone fragment which has been identified as part of a human pelvis, believed to be a relic of St Nicholas.
Interestingly, the
Bari collection does not include the saint's full pelvis, only the left ilium
(from the upper part of the bone). While Fr.O'Neil's relic is from the left
pubis (the lower part of the bone) and suggests that both bone fragments could
be from the same person.
Dr Kazan said: 'These
results encourage us to now turn to the Bari and Venice relics to attempt to
show that the bone remains are from the same individual. We can do this using
ancient palaeogenomics, or DNA testing. It is exciting to think that these
relics, which date from such an ancient time, could in fact be genuine'.
The relics held in
Venice consist of as many as 500 bone fragments, which an anatomical study
concluded were complementary to the Bari collection, suggesting that both sets
of relics could originate from the same individual. It remains to be confirmed
what fragments of the pelvis are contained amongst the Venice relics, if any.
The archaeologists'
work has revealed that the bone has been venerated for almost 1700 years,
making it one of the oldest relics that the Oxford team has ever analysed.
As Radio carbon-dating technology has become more sophisticated in recent years, ancient relics have become more accessible in ways that previously would have been considered too invasive to study. Dr Kazan added: 'Where once we needed physical portions of a bone sample, we can now test milligram size, micro-samples -- opening up a new world of archaeological study.'
As Radio carbon-dating technology has become more sophisticated in recent years, ancient relics have become more accessible in ways that previously would have been considered too invasive to study. Dr Kazan added: 'Where once we needed physical portions of a bone sample, we can now test milligram size, micro-samples -- opening up a new world of archaeological study.'
In the 16th century
stories about St Nicholas become popular, and the legend of Father Christmas
was born. December 6 is known and celebrated in several European countries --
particularly Holland, as St Nicholas Feast Day.
On the eve of the feast, children leave out clogs and shoes to be filled with presents. Of the possible authenticity of the relic itself, Professor Higham concludes: 'Science is not able to definitely prove that it is, it can only prove that it is not, however'.
On the eve of the feast, children leave out clogs and shoes to be filled with presents. Of the possible authenticity of the relic itself, Professor Higham concludes: 'Science is not able to definitely prove that it is, it can only prove that it is not, however'.