Archaeologists believe they may have found the tomb of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the early church bishop of Greek descent whose generosity inspired the character of Santa Claus.

Ebru Fatma Findik, a professor at Hatay Kemal University, led a project that discovered a limestone sarcophagus buried deep within Saint Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey, which had for a long time been considered the resting place for the body of Saint Nicholas. Researchers are now seeking an inscription that would reveal details about whose body is inside the tomb.

“The fact we have found a sarcophagus near the church, which is thought to house his tomb, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for,” Findik observed. “This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place.”

Archaeologists have uncovered the lid of the tomb, with only a portion of the burial chamber visible, and are anticipating excavations in the coming months to seek further information.

Saint Nicholas was made famous for his secretive acts of generosity, such as one account of him dropping sacks of coins into the home of three young girls so that their father could pay their dowries and rescue them from a life of prostitution. Such tales of generosity inspired the modern character of Santa Claus, possibly through the Dutch tradition of Sinter Klaas, who wore a red robe and long white beard while distributing gifts to children on the eve of his feast day.

Another tale recounts that Saint Nicholas, enraged by the arguments which early church heretic Arius made during the Council of Nicaea to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, lost his temper and struck his interlocutor, which led to his temporary defrocking and imprisonment.