Archaeologists who scanned the grave of British writer William Shakespeare claim to have made a disturbing discovery - his skull has disappeared from the tomb, writes Al Jazeera.
Researchers used ground-penetrating radar to examine the writer's grave at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, AP reports.
Archaeologist Kevin Coles, who led the study, said evidence had been found of subsequent interventions after Shakespeare's burial.
"I'm pretty sure his skull isn't in Trinity Church at all," Coles said.
Claims in the story
Director of the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham, Michael Dobson, said the grave-robbing claims first appeared in an 1879 short story.
The vicar of the church, Patrick Taylor, however, is not convinced that there is enough evidence to conclude that Shakespeare's skull was stolen and pointed out that there are no plans to exhume the tomb.
"We will have to live in the mystery of not knowing what is under the stone," he said.
According to church records, Shakespeare was buried on April 25, 1616, two days after he died at the age of 52.
His wife Anne Hathaway, daughter and son-in-law were later buried next to him.
Bonus video:
