Historian: Tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent Found

The remains of the tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent, who died in 1566 while his troops were besieging the fortress of Szigetvar in southern Hungary, have "in all likelihood" been found, a Hungarian historian says. Norbert Pap says the tomb is believed to have been built over the spot where Suleiman's tent stood and where he died. Pap, from the University of Pecs in Hungary, said objects suggesting it was Suleiman's tomb were found during the dig, as well as other historical evidence, although more excavations are needed to confirm the find. "We have data [that] all points in the same direction," he says. "But more confirmation is needed, as this is a very delicate topic."

Historians believe Suleiman's heart and internal organs were buried in the tomb. Pap says some other structures near the tomb, all still underground, are likely to be a small mosque and a dervish monastery. Until his death at age 71, Suleiman was the Ottoman Empire's longest-ruling sultan. During his 46-year reign, the Turks greatly expanded their dominance in the Balkans, the Middle East, and northern Africa. (Workers in a Spanish town "fixed" an ancient tomb that they thought was a broken picnic table.)