Austrian archaeologist Hilke Thur claims that bones found in Turkey belong to Cleopatra's sister, Arsinoe IV.

This claim that Cleopatra's sister's bones have been found comes after DNA evidence proved 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that bones found underneath a parking lot in Leicester England belonged to King Richard III, according to the lead archaeologist at that excavation.

Hilke Thur, based in Vienna at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, faces a similar situation with bones that are over 2,000 years old allegedly belonging to the infamous leader Cleopatra's murdered sister. 

Thur discussed her theory in a recent interview covered by the News Observer. 

She began studying in Ephesus, a very important historical city and archaeological site in in Western Turkey, and then started investigating a specific monument called 'The Octagon' whose excavation began in 1904.

A grave chamber was found inside 'The Octagon', holding the skeleton of a young 20-year-old woman.

While she was studying The Octagon's architecture, she found ancient writings explaining "in the year 41 B.C., Arsinoe IV -the half-sister of Cleopatra - was murdered in Ephesus by Cleopatra and her Roman lover, Marc Anthony."

"I put the pieces of the puzzle together."

Other clues support the hypothesis that the skeleton is actually Cleopatra's sister.

In ancient times, only special (aristocratic, skilled) people were buried in the city. In addition, the skeleton was that of a woman.

Finally, Thur explained that the octagonal shape of the imperial grave monument, while quite unusual for the time, resembles the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was built by the Ptolemy dynasty from which Cleopatra and Arsinoe IV were descended.

Although there is situational evidence to prove her theory, forensic evidence would prove her case more strongly. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the excavation site, such evidence is almost impossible to gather.

The Octagon site has grave chamber that was opened in 1926, and different experts who examined the bones found that the body was of a woman younger than 20, which weakens Thur's theory about the body belonging to Arsinoe IV.

Still, Thur claims that the counter-arguments don't disprove her theory.

"This academic questioning is normal. It happens. It's a kind of jealousy," she explained. 

Thur goes on to say that DNA testing would be ideal to prove her theory, but the tests didn't work well because the skeleton had been moved and held by many of people previously.

"I don't know if there are possibilities to do more of this testing. Forensic material is not my field. One of my colleagues on the project told me two years ago there currently is no other method to really determine more. But he thinks there may be new methods developing. There is hope," Thur stated.

Hilke Thur will cover her findings and work about Cleopatra's sister in a March 1 lecture at the North Carolina Museum of Natural History in Raleigh.