Four centuries after the death of Spain's greatest writer, Miguel de Cervantes, who brought the legendary tale of Don Quixote to the world, Spanish historians intend to find the author's remains.

Cervantes had published his most notable piece of literature, "The Adventures of the Ingenious Nobleman Don Quixote of La Mancha" in 1605 before settling in Madrid in 1606, which is where he would live out the rest of his days.

When Cervantes died in 1616 at the age of 69, he was buried in the Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians in Madrid's historic Barrio de las Letras, Fox News reported.

Fernando Prado, the lead historian of the project, said only five people, including Cervantes, was buried at the church. The chapel was later remodeled and expanded to its current design.

"We know he is buried there," Prado said. "History teaches us that churches never throw bones away. They might relocate them under roofs and vaults if necessary, but no one would dare throw them into a common ossuary."

The search to find Cervantes' remains will require three phases and cost 100,000 euros or $138,000.

Excavations began Monday and are expected to last until the end of the year.

The first phase, radar operator Luis Avial said, would use radar to explore underground.

"We will clearly see if there is altered terrain that will give us clues," Avial said.

The final phase will require the help of Spanish forensic anthropologist Francisco Etxeberria, who helped with the suicide case of former Chilean President Salvador Allende, Fox reported.

Etxeberria will be tasked with identifying the remains and bones the team digs up to make sure it belongs to Cervantes.

Prado said DNA analysis couldn't be used because there are not living Cervantes descendants.

According to Fox, the team will rely on Cervante's texts in which he describes himself. In one of his written works prior to his death, he wrote that he only had six teeth.

The most recognizable traits the researchers will look for, however, are the battle wounds Cervantes sustained in the 1571 Battle of Lepanto where Ottoman Turkish forces fought the Holy League, led by Spain.

Cervantes was shot three times — twice in the chest and on in his hand — while aboard the ship La Marquesa.

Historical records often referred to Cervantes as the "one-armed man of Lepanto," which is deceiving because although doctors never amputated his arm, he did, however, lose its use, Fox reported.

Prado said if the team is successful in finding the famed author's remains, he would be returned to the church and remembered honorably.

"He will be reburied there but with a plaque to remember his name and who he is," Prado said.