A small ancient tool was discovered in the canonical gardens of Frombork, Poland, dating back 500 years.
The find consisted of a rare copper compass. Its shape is slightly reminiscent of a wishbone, in that it is connected at its top by two pins that extend in a V shape.
The discovery was announced by the group responsible for its discovery, Warminska Grupa Eksploracyjna, in a Facebook post on August 4, 2024.
An ancient compass has been discovered in Poland and researchers believe the tool once belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus. (Story Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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“Today we had great success,” read a statement translated by the group on Facebook. The group also said they were able to locate underground tunnels where they spotted the ancient find.
The compass is only the third of its kind to be discovered in Poland, according to the archaeology group’s Facebook post, which also featured photos of the find.
After the artifact was discovered, it was handed over to Detekt Archaeological Services, who confirmed that the compass dates back to between the 15th and 16th centuries, according to Live Science.
It is believed that the compass may have a connection with the Polish astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus. The connection between Copernicus and the tool comes mainly from the fact that it was found in Frombork, more precisely in the canonical gardens where Copernicus spent a large part of his life.
Copernicus was a famous astronomer who spent much of his life in Frombork. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
“We have discovered an ancient compass that probably belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus,” the Misja Skarb Foundation, a group also involved in the discovery, wrote on a translated webpage organized by Michael Antcza and intended to raise funds for archaeological research. “This tool could be used by an astronomer to make precise measurements and calculations that were crucial to his astronomical research. This discovery is of great historical importance because the compass is one of the few direct evidences of Copernicus’ practical application of science.”
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Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473. He was known for his work in astronomy, particularly on the heliocentric theory. He was the first European scientist to suggest that the Earth and other planets revolved around the Sun, according to History.com.
This contradicts the common belief among astronomers that the Earth was located in the center.
His ideas laid the foundation for many astronomers after him, who built on Copernicus’ ideas to better understand the universe.
Copernicus’ theory was described in the book “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres.” (SSPL/Getty Images)
Copernicus’ theory was described in his book, “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres,” which he completed in 1532, according to Space.com
It was not until 1543 that the work was finally published, the same year that Copernicus died in Frombork.
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Since the discovery of what may be the famous astronomer’s compass, it has been transferred to the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum, which already has another similar tool, according to an Aug. 4 Facebook post from the museum.
