Bone fragment thought to belong to saint who inspired Father Christmas discovered in Italy

Academics have tested findings and say they belong to correct epoch

Saint Nicholas was also known as the Wonderworker because of his miracle intercessions (Creative Commons)

A fragment of bone said to belong to the fourth-century saint who inspired the story of Father Christmas could indeed be from the legend himself, scientists have said.

Researchers at the University of Oxford radiocarbon-tested the relic, long venerated as having belonged to St Nicholas, and found it does date from the correct historical period.

While they cannot categorically prove they are from the Christian saint, the team said the results pinpoint the relic's age to the fourth century AD - the time that some historians allege that St Nicholas died (around 343 AD).

"Many relics that we study turn out to date to a period somewhat later than the historic attestation would suggest," said Professor Tom Higham, director of the Oxford Relics Cluster at Keble College's Advanced Studies Centre.

"This bone fragment, in contrast, suggests that we could possibly be looking at remains from St Nicholas himself."

St Nicholas, one of the most revered Christian saints, is thought to have lived in Myra, 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 story of Father Christmas as a bringer of gifts on Christmas Day.

Most of his remains have been held in the Basilica di San Nicola, in Bari, Italy, since 1087, where they are buried in a crypt beneath a marble altar, but over the years relic fragments have been acquired by churches around the world.

As many as 500 of St Nicholas's bone fragments are believed to be held in Venice.

The bone analysed in Oxford – a pelvis fragment – is owned by Father Dennis O'Neill, of St Martha of Bethany Church, in Illinois, United States.

Dr Georges Kazan, another director of the Oxford Relics Cluster, 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."

However, there may never be any way to prove definitively whether or not the bones really were from St Nicholas.

Press Association