Topic: Copernicus Skull Found, Computer creates portrait  (Read 1415 times)

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Offline Dracho

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Copernicus Skull Found, Computer creates portrait
« on: November 04, 2005, 01:06:31 pm »
Like looking backwards in time..




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9913250/

WARSAW, Poland - 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.

“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.

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Offline Bonk

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Re: Copernicus Skull Found, Computer creates portrait
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2005, 02:57:12 pm »
 8)

I think they overdid the broken nose though.

I begin to wonder what's the cutoff for achaeology vs grave desecration though. 462 years isn't very long ago. It strikes me as a bit ghoulish. I'm of the opinion that there is too much of this lately. Are they running out of bodies or what? Next thing you know they'll be diggin up my grandfather... what would the Leakeys say about these "Archaeologists"?

Offline Chris Johnson

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Re: Copernicus Skull Found, Computer creates portrait
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2005, 10:26:07 pm »


Not to go off topic, but when I saw that picture, I couldn't help but think...



Yeah, yeah, unlikely relation, and I don't know if I've gone blind on attempting to find resemblence.  I just couldn't help but instantly think about comparing them though. :)

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Offline IndyShark

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Re: Copernicus Skull Found, Computer creates portrait
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2005, 11:03:50 pm »
Chris, that is uncanny! Good call

Offline E_Look

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Re: Copernicus Skull Found, Computer creates portrait
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2005, 11:40:20 pm »
Is he the one who pulled out the Polish vodka or the one who pulled out the pistol?   ;)