The international team, led by Professor José Antonio Lorente from the University of Granada, Spain, compared the DNA from the remains with that of Columbus’ son Hernando and brother Diego – who were also buried in Seville Cathedral. The results showed that these were indeed the remains of the famous 15th-century explorer.

In addition to verifying his identity, scientists are also looking into Columbus’s origins. Although he is generally believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, as many as 25 different locations in Europe have been suggested as his birthplace. The results of the study will be published in a Spanish television documentary and published in scientific journals later this month.

This discovery is not only of great historical significance but also shows the remarkable progress of DNA technology in forensic research. From inconclusive results in 2003, scientists have now determined the exact identity of Columbus, opening up the opportunity to discover more about the life of this great explorer.

Thanh Mai