Amateur archaeologists found a 16th-century compass in Frombork, a town in northern Poland known as the home of famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
According to local museum experts, the compass, only the third of its kind found in Poland, might have belonged to Copernicus. He was the scientist who posited that the Sun—not the Earth—is at the center of the universe.
Two groups of archaeology enthusiasts, supervised by professional archaeologists, discovered the compass in the canonical gardens of Frombork. One group, Misja Skarb, shared the news with Notes from Poland.
Misja Skarb announced on social media:
“This amazing find not only takes us back in time to the period when Copernicus made his groundbreaking discoveries, but also opens up new possibilities for understanding his working methods.”
Tunnel used by Copernicus in the canonical gardens
Dawid Stenc of Misja Skarb explained on the group’s YouTube channel that they chose the canonical gardens because of a legend. The legend made mention of a tunnel used by Copernicus, connecting his workplace to the town’s cathedral.
500 years old compass belonging to Copernicus found.
The compass, made of copper-alloy, was found by amateur archaeologists, who used a ground penetrating radar to comb the grounds of the 14th century Frombork castle in the north of the country.
The compass, famously pictured… pic.twitter.com/gCY5gVXbJc
— Ancient Hypotheses (@AncientEpoch) August 7, 2024
The groups began their search with ground-penetrating radar surveys. These surveys led to the uncovering of a corner of an old building where monks once lived as well as the entrance to its collapsed cellars. The discovery of the compass, however, was unexpected and surprised everyone involved.
Zorjana Polenik, an employee of the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum in Frombork, informed reporters that the compass is made of copper alloy and dates back to the 16th century. She mentioned that it “could have belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus himself.”
The compass will now undergo conservation work. After that, the local conservator of monuments will decide its fate. Moreover, the museum hopes to add the artifact to its collection.
New compass is the third of its kind in Poland
Polenik pointed out that this compass is only the third of its kind discovered in Poland. The first was unearthed in 2005 at Collegium Novum, part of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
The second was found in 2016, also in the canonical gardens of Frombork, and is now housed in the museum’s collection.
Copernicus was born in 1473 in Toruń, known at that time by its German name, Thorn. The city was part of Royal Prussia, which had joined the Kingdom of Poland seven years earlier.
Copernicus was raised in a German-speaking family. He later studied at the University of Kraków, now known as the Jagiellonian University, and became fluent in Polish.
He spent 30 years in Frombork, where he served as a canon at the cathedral. During his time there, he conducted numerous astronomical observations. He passed away in Frombork in 1543 and was laid to rest in the cathedral.
