500 Year Old Compass

Archaeologists have discovered a 500-year-old compass that may have belonged to Copernicus.

Long ago, Nicolaus Copernicus developed a model of the solar system where the sun was located in the middle. This was a complete overhaul of the conception of the universe of the time and changed how people look at the stars forever. It also angered the Catholic Church, which anger lingered for decades after his death.

Now, some amateur archaeologists have stumbled upon what may be one of the very tools that once aided Copernicus in his work.

These amateurs were searching in the gardens of the Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Andrew in northern Poland. This location is also known as the Frombork Cathedral. They used ground-penetrating radar that uncovered an underground chamber with 3 tunnels. This is where they discovered a 500-year-old compass that looks just like the one Copernicus is often depicted holding.

Although there isn’t direct evidence that this particular compass belonged to Copernicus, there is reason to believe that link could exist. After Copernicus’ studies at the University of Cracow in the 1490s, he received an appointment to the governing body of Frombork Cathedral. This position gave him the opportunity to continue his studies. Although the job took up much of his schedule, he was able to pursue his interests during his free time.

Later, Copernicus spent time at both the University of Bologna and the University of Padua (among other places), but by 1510, he had returned to Frombork, where he developed his theory of the solar system. He remained at Frombork until his final breath on May 24, 1543.

Part of what leads to the belief that the compass was once in Copernicus’ hands is that it was found not far from where the astronomer’s remains had recently been discovered. It had been believed that he was buried within the cathedral, but in 2005, archaeologists located a partial skull matching his description.

This compass is the second such instrument found on the grounds.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archaeologists-found-a-500-year-old-compass-turns-out-it-may-have-belonged-to-copernicus/ar-AA1R814Q?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=6925e0b54aa545f1a3e6fc8f7416ef8d&ei=24

Ancient Dragon Man of China

The DNA of China’s ancient ‘Dragon Man’ puts a face to a mysterious group of ancient humans.

A skull was recovered from the bottom of a well in Northeastern China in 2018. It didn’t match any previously known species of prehistoric human. Scientists now say they have evidence where the fossil fits.

After several attempts, researchers finally extracted genetic material from the fossilized cranium, which had been nicknamed ‘Dragon Man’. It has now been linked to a group of early humans known as Denisovans. Several Denisovan fossilized bone fragments had already been found but offered little idea what these ancient hominins looked like. The group had never been assigned an official scientific name.

Skulls are usually considered the best type of remains to understand the appearance of extinct hominin species. This new finding could put a face to the Denisovans.

Denisovans were first discovered in 2010 from a fossilized pinkie found in Denisova Cave in Russia. Additional remains in the cave and elsewhere in Asia have added to the picture.

The new findings could fill in some gaps about the time when Homo sapiens weren’t the only humans on the planet. For tens of thousands of years, our species coexisted and interbred with both Denisovans and Neanderthals.

The Dragon Man skull was discovered in 1933 in northeastern China. A laborer was constructing a bridge when he discovered the skull. He took it home and stored it at the bottom of a well for safekeeping. The cranium remained hidden for decades until his relatives learned about it and donated it to the Hebei GEO University. Studies published in 2021 stated the skull was at least 146,000 years old.

Researchers argued over whether the fossil was of a new species. Some thought it might be Denisovan, and others lumped it in with a cache of hard-to-classify fossils found in China.

Based on the molecular evidence linking the skull to Denisovans, it will be easier for paleoanthropologists to classify other potential Denisovan remains. It also makes it more evident what Denisovans might have looked like: very strong brow ridges, brains about the same size at in Neanderthals and modern humans, with large teeth. They would have had a blocky and robust appearance.

If dressed in modern attire, they would be recognizable as ‘human’.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/dragon-man-dna-revelation-puts-a-face-to-a-mysterious-group-of-ancient-humans/ar-AA1GXZKS?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=44c63277a1b1486092eb1af40fb6912d&ei=90