Copernicus' Grave Found in Polish Church
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November 03,2005 | WARSAW, Poland -- Polish archeologists believe they have
located the grave of 16th-century astronomer and solar-system proponent
Nicolaus Copernicus in a Polish church, one of the scientists announced
Thursday.
Copernicus, who died in 1543 at 70 after challenging the ancient belief that
the sun revolved around the earth, was buried at the Roman Catholic
cathedral in the city of Frombork, 180 miles north of the capital, Warsaw.
Jerzy Gassowski, head of an archaeology and anthropology institute in
Pultusk, central Poland, said his four-member team found what appears to be
the skull of the Polish astronomer and clergyman in August, after a one-year
search of tombs under the church floor.
"We can be almost 100 percent sure this is Copernicus," Gassowski told The
Associated Press by phone after making the announcement during a meeting of
scientists.
Gassowski said police forensic experts used the skull to reconstruct a face
that closely resembled the features -- including a broken nose and scar
above the left eye -- on a Copernicus self-portrait. The experts also
determined the skull belonged to a man who died at about age 70.
The grave was in bad condition and not all remains were found, Gassowski
said, adding that his team will try to find relatives of Copernicus to do
more accurate DNA identification.
(from the Associated Press)
Fred Sawyer
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