Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V. E. K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology.
Groundbreaking Genetic Study Aims to Settle Centuries-Old Debate on Columbus's Birthplace
More than 500 years after Christopher Columbus set sail and reshaped history by opening the New World to European exploration, scientists are now ready to reveal the truth about his origins. Though most historical accounts claim Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, uncertainty about his birthplace has lingered, with many regions vying for recognition.
A groundbreaking investigation, over two decades in the making, is about to conclude. In 2003, forensic experts, led by Professor José Antonio Lorente from Granada University, exhumed Columbus’s remains from Seville Cathedral, alongside his son Hernando and brother Diego. Their DNA was compared to that of historical figures from various regions to settle the mystery once and for all.
The findings, set to be unveiled in an upcoming documentary airing on Spain's national holiday commemorating Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, will shed light on whether Columbus was indeed a native of Genoa or from another location. Initial results confirm the remains in Seville belong to the famous explorer, though some speculate that fragments of his remains might still rest in the Dominican Republic.
Columbus’s birthplace remains the biggest enigma, with researchers narrowing the possibilities to regions in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Among the contenders are Galicia, Mallorca, Valencia, Navarre, and Castilla La Mancha in Spain, as well as a nobleman pirate theory from Portugal. While the widely accepted belief remains that Columbus was from Genoa, the documentary promises revelations that could reshape our understanding of his early life and origins. The full results of the DNA study are expected to be published in November.
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