They Can Now Retire Europe's Oldest Milk Carton

They found Nicholas Copernicus' skull! And it only took 450 years!

Archaeologists 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 (290 kilometers) north of the capital, Warsaw.

Jerzy Gassowski, head of an archaeology and anthropology institute in the central Polish city of Pultusk, 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.

The article comes with a recreation picture of the astronomer, based on skull analysis, that establishes that when it's time for a movie version of Copernicus' life, tall, bony actor James Cromwell is going to get the nod.

What I find interesting is that Copernicus' final whereabouts were in doubt at all. The disposition of the remains of a 16h astronomer -- even one as critically important Nicholas "hey, the earth revolves around the sun, not the other way around" Copernicus -- are naturally not the common conversation of your average folk. But I've been an astronomy junkie all my life, and even wrote an astronomy book. I should have known. Now I feel all out-of-the-loop. I think I'll go watch an episode of Cosmos to make myself feel better.

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 5 comments: (Add your own)

#5 Comment from coelha
11/4/05 12:18 PM | Permalink

Amazing.. The resemblance between ole' Copernicus and James Cromwell is uncanny! I really do hope that they DON'T make a movie!

Julie :)
#4 Comment from teeisme57
11/4/05 11:59 AM | Permalink

I wonder what the Polish word for geek is...I'll have to ask my mom if there is one. Cabbagehead maybe? That would be Kapusta-something.....not sure.
#3 Comment from monponsett
11/4/05 10:09 AM | Permalink

Little known fact, and I swear it's true:

Napoleon's unit was severed after his death, and it trades frequently among bio-historical collectors. To my knowledge, it is now in the possession of a German urologist, who scored it for like $20K in the 1980s.
#2 Comment from vortexgirl
11/4/05 9:15 AM | Permalink

I didn't know that it was missing. Good thing they found it then. lol
Dianne
#1 Comment from mawmellow
11/4/05 8:46 AM | Permalink

whew now I can sleep tonight...LOL

By The Way... Public Journal
Back to Journal	Archives \| Alerts x Entry Alerts Comment Alerts \| Feeds

By The Way...

They Can Now Retire Europe's Oldest Milk Carton