LONDON: Was
Santa real? Scientists have offered a tantalising
clue by dating a bone said to belong to St Nicholas, the inspiration for Father Christmas, to the same century in which he died in what is now Turkey. Oxford University researchers analysed a micro-sample of a pelvis fragment and found that it dated back to the fourth century. Legend has it that St Nicholas, who is depicted with a white beard in icons and was said to have died in 343 AD, was widely known for his generosity ? a trait that inspired the story of Father Christmas. ?Many relics that we study turn out to date to a period somewhat later than the historic attestation would suggest,? Tom Higham, co-director of the Oxford Relics Centre, said in a statement. ?This bone fragment, in contrast, suggests that we could possibly be looking at remains from St Nicholas himself,? Higham said.
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