Italians Think They've Found Caravaggio's Bones

Italian researchers say they believe they have found the remains of the artist Caravaggio 400 years after his death and that he died from sunstroke while weakened by syphilis.

The researchers announced results Wednesday of their year-long project, saying bones dug up in the place where Caravaggio died are likely his. However, they acknowledge there is only an 85 percent probability they are right and they can never be fully certain.

Caravaggio died in 1610 aged 39. His bones were never located and the cause of his death never ascertained. Suggested causes have ranged from sudden fever to syphilis.

The researchers conducted carbon dating and DNA testing on the bones.