The Strange Story of the Grave of Copernicus
Nicholas Copernicus, the astronomer who revolutionized our understanding of the universe, was buried in 1543 in Frombork, Poland. However, over the centuries, the location of his grave was lost to history. Due to his revolutionary ideas, Copernicus was always afraid of how his work would be received by the church and fellow scholars. His magnum opus, “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” (On the Movement of the Celestial Spheres), was only published just before his death.
Many attempts were made to locate Copernicus’s remains, dating as far back as the 16th and 17th centuries, and even by the French emperor Napoleon after the Battle of Eylau in 1807. He was unsuccessful in his quest to find Copernicus’s remains. It wasn’t until 2005 that a group of Polish archaeologists began a new search, guided by the theory of historian Jerzy Sikorski, who claimed that Copernicus would have been buried near the cathedral altar for which he was responsible during his tenure.
Thirteen skeletons were discovered near the Altar of the Holy Cross in Frombork Cathedral, including an incomplete skeleton of a male aged between 60 and 70 years. This particular skeleton was identified as the closest match to Copernicus’s. The skull of the skeleton served as the basis for a facial reconstruction, and DNA analysis confirmed that the remains likely belonged to Copernicus.
In 2006, a new source of DNA reference material was found in an astronomical reference book used by Copernicus. Several hairs thought to belong to Copernicus were found among its pages, and when compared with the DNA from the teeth and bones of the discovered skeleton, they matched, strongly suggesting that the remains were indeed those of Nicholas Copernicus.
The multidisciplinary effort, involving archaeological excavation, morphological studies, and advanced DNA analysis, has led to the compelling conclusion that the remains discovered near the Altar of the Holy Cross in Frombork Cathedral are highly likely to be those of Nicholas Copernicus. This monumental find not only sheds light on the final resting place of one of the most influential figures in the history of science but also showcases the depth and sophistication of modern scientific methods in corroborating historical data.