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

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

Columbus’ posthumous voyage began when he died in Valladolid, Spain, but his remains were first transferred to the island of Hispaniola, modern-day Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, in 1542, according to his wishes. From there they were moved to Cuba in 1795, when Spain lost control of Hispaniola, and later returned to Seville in 1898, after Spain’s defeat in the Spanish-American War. This continued movement, coupled with claims that another set of remains found in the Dominican Republic could also be Columbus’s, 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 the case for more than twenty years. Lorente announced the findings with “absolute reliability,” explaining that advances in DNA technology have led to conclusive results. Lorente’s team worked with labs in Spain, the United States, Mexico and Italy, all of which independently confirmed the DNA matches without communication between the clinics.

Although the identity of the remains has now been confirmed, the question of Columbus’s origins remains open. It is widely believed that Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, but theories about his birthplace are spread across 25 different locations in Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and as far away as Scotland and Norway. Some have even speculated that he may have had Jewish ancestry. Lorente and his team also investigate this mystery using DNA analysis.

In a 2021 interview, Lorente stated: “There is no doubt on our part (about his Italian origins), but we can provide objective data that can close a series of existing theories.” In the broader context, Columbus’s legacy remains controversial. Although 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 the native population. These dark aspects of his legacy have sparked debate and protests in recent years, with statues of Columbus being toppled and calls for a reappraisal of his place in history.

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