Has the question of Columbus’s final resting place finally been settled? Is it Seville Cathedral?
It’s been settled via mitochondrial DNA testing that the mausoleum in Seville cathedral contains the remains of a man who must have the same maternal lineage with Christopher Columbus’ brother Diego; that makes it highly likely that they are, indeed, of Christopher Columbus. But it does not rule out that parts of his remains are elsewhere. They have been moved numerous times since his death in 1506.
Thanks Schnitte.
Do we know where Chris’ brother Bartholomew is buried? Would he have the same maternal DNA as Chris?
He should be at Santa Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
But its possible that the bones in Seville are of Bartholomew, as a box at Santa Domingo is labelled Christoban Colon … So maybe the Spanish saw the box saying “Columbus”, or an unlabelled box at the right spot and took the remains of it, and didnt know that the box for Christopher should be labelled in full ? So maybe they took Bartholomew back to Spain. Or maybe the box in Santa Domingo just has someone elses remains, its been reused… Or maybe the box had both brothers in it, and they correctly took Christophers from the dual occupancy box.
So its possible Barthemolow is in Spain, and Christopher is in Santa Domingo, and that would explain the match with the brother Hernando … So the match with Hernando doesn’t actually solve the problem.
The mitochrondrial DNA for Diego is plausible, but it only shows plausibility the two brothers are father and uncle to Diego… it was never going to be proof. (as it shows the mother is from a similar ethnicity.)
Due to the inability to recover Y chromosome DNA from the bones taken from Santa Domingo (those bones being in poor condition) the Dominican Republic refuse to do testing on their remains, saying its a waste of time. However they might also just want to keep tourists coming to see the tomb of Christopher Columbus when they know they probably don’t have Christopher… But it is not a waste of time, the better box in Santa Domingo may hold well preserved remains and they could be given a “extermely likely” match ? to father or to uncle ? of Diego… showing which brother is where, IF the box in Santa Domingo has a brother.
But if the DNA in Santa Domingo doesn’t match, it would mean that the identities of remains in Spain can’t be differentiated, and we can’t be extremely sure if its Bartholomew or Christopher there. Its sure , just not extremely sure, that they got it right. the coffin was clearly labelled, they would find a coffin clearly labelled, and take the remains from it, and if there were two brothers they would different the correct one, probably. Its sure that Santa Domingo has the tomb mislabelled, they should not say its Christopher…
SantO Domingo
…Sorry but it just was eating at me…