DNA analysis confirms Christopher Columbus' remains in Seville, solving a 500-year-old mystery

After two decades of research, forensic scientists have finally confirmed that the remains buried in Seville Cathedral in Spain belong to the famous 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus.

Using advanced DNA analysis, researchers matched the remains to those of Columbus' son Hernando and his brother Diego, who are also buried in the cathedral. This breakthrough has cleared long-standing doubts about whether the bones in Seville really belonged to Columbus, whose body was moved several times after his death in 1506.

Columbus' posthumous voyage began with his death in Valladolid, Spain, but at his request his remains were first transferred to the island of Hispaniola, now Haiti, and the Dominican Republic in 1542. From there they were moved to Cuba in 1795 when Spain lost control of Hispaniola, and returned to Seville in 1898 after Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War. This constant relocation, coupled with claims that another group of remains found in the Dominican Republic may also belong to Columbus, fueled skepticism about the authenticity of the bones in Seville.

The team behind the investigation was led by forensic scientist José Antonio Lorente from the University of Granada, who has worked on this case for more than 20 years. Lorente announced the results with “absolute confidence,” explaining that advances in DNA technology had made conclusive results possible. Lorente's team worked with laboratories in Spain, the United States, Mexico and Italy, all of which independently confirmed the DNA matches, without communication between the clinics.

While the identity of the remains is now confirmed, the question of Columbus' origins remains open. It is generally believed that Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, but theories about his birthplace range to 25 different locations in Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and even as far away as Scotland and Norway. Some have even speculated that he may have been of Jewish descent. Lorente and his team are also getting to the bottom of this mystery using DNA analysis.

In an interview in 2021, Lorente stated: “There is no doubt on our part (of his Italian origins), but we can provide objective data that can close a number of existing theories.” In the broader context, Columbus's legacy remains controversial. While he is celebrated for his role in opening the Americas to European exploration and colonization, critics point to the brutal consequences of his travels, including the enslavement and decimation of indigenous populations. These darker aspects of his legacy have sparked debate and led to protests in recent years, with statues of Columbus toppled and calls for a reassessment of his place in history.

As the debate over Columbus' impact on the world continues, the scientific community now has at least a definitive answer to one of the long-standing mysteries: the remains in Seville really belong to Christopher Columbus.