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Archaeologists find 500-year-old navigational tool in Poland, possible connection to Copernicus
A small ancient tool was unearthed in the canonical gardens of Frombork, Poland, that dates back 500 years.
The find was a rare compass made from copper. Its shape slightly resembles that of a wishbone in that it is connected at the top with the two prongs extending into the shape of a letter V.
The find was announced by the group responsible for its finding, Warminska Grupa Eksploracyjna, in a Facebook post on Aug. 4, 2024.
An ancient compass was found in Poland, and researchers believe the tool once belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus. (Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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“Today we are very successful,” a translated Facebook statement by the group says. The group further shared that they were able to locate underground tunnels where they spotted the ancient find.
This compass is only the third of its kind to be found in Poland, according to the archeology group’s Facebook post, which also showcased photos of the discovery.
After the artifact was found, it was put in the hands of Detekt Archaeological Services, which confirmed the compass was from between the 15th and 16th centuries, according to Live Science.
The compass is believed to have possible connections to Polish astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus. The link between Copernicus and the tool mainly comes from the fact that it was found in Frombork, specifically in the canonical gardens where Copernicus spent much of his life.
Copernicus was a famous astronomer who spent much of his life in Frombork. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
“We discovered an ancient compass that probably belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus,” the Misja Skarb Foundation, a group also involved in the find, wrote on a translated webpage organized by Michael Antcza and dedicated to raising money for archaeological research. “This tool could be used by an astronomer to perform precise measurements and calculations that were crucial in his astronomical research. This find is of great historical importance because the compass is one of the few direct evidence of the practical application of science by Copernicus.”
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Copernicus was born on Feb. 19, 1473. He was known for his work in astronomy, especially regarding 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 contradicted the common belief held by astronomers that the Earth was located at the center.
His ideas laid the groundwork 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 Heavenly Spheres.” (SSPL/Getty Images)
Copernicus’ theory was described in his book, “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres,” which he finished in 1532, according to Space.com
It wasn’t until 1543 that the work was finally published, the same year Copernicus died in Frombork.
Since the finding of what could be a compass of the famed astronomer, it has been relocated to the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum, which has another similar tool in its possession already, according to an Aug. 4 Facebook post from the museum.
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Russian-operated shadow tankers carrying millions of dollars in sanctioned oil are transiting the English Channel, raising warnings of a potential military confrontation in NATO waters, according to reports.
The movements came amid heightened tensions between Russia and NATO, with the Royal Navy stepping up surveillance of U.S.- and allied-sanctioned vessels in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
A Russian-flagged crude oil tanker Vladimir Monomakh transits the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. (Reuters/Yoruk Isik, File)
Sky News reported Wednesday that as many as 800 shadow tankers had passed through the channel, and continue to bankroll Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Several Russia-linked oil tankers — including the Rigel, Hyperion and Kousai — have been tracked by VesselFinder and are known to be under Western sanctions.
The outlet reported that three of the vessels were monitored this month as they transited loaded with sanctioned crude.
The Rigel, an 885-foot Suezmax-class tanker sailing under a Cameroonian flag, left the Russian port of Primorsk on Feb. 2, with up to one million barrels of oil, a cargo valued at around $55 million.
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The French navy diverts a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker to Marseille-Fos port. (Reuters/Manon Cruz)
Sanctioned by the U.K., the EU and Canada, it is barred from using port facilities in those jurisdictions but is still permitted “innocent passage” under maritime law.
The Kousai, sailing under a Sierra Leonean flag, left Ust-Luga on Feb. 2, and was warned by authorities to provide proof of insurance within 24 hours.
The Hyperion, also sanctioned by the U.S., switched flags after delivering oil to Venezuela, to obscure ownership and evade enforcement, according to reports.
Security experts warned of an increased risk of geopolitical escalation in the region.
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Hundreds of shadow tankers have passed through the English Channel and European waterways, and continue to bankroll Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. (Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
]Professor Michael Clarke told Sky News that there may come a point when Britain and its allies “get much tougher with these Russian ships,” adding that a “militarized confrontation at sea” this year is a real possibility, in the Channel or the North Sea.
A U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson said: “Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government.
“Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels — and as the Secretary of State set out, we will continue to do so,” the spokesperson said.
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The MoD said it has requested proof of insurance from more than 600 suspected vessels since October 2024.
The U.S. has also taken a firm stance, seizing at least seven tankers linked to sanctioned oil trades since December 2025, including several in the Caribbean.
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Should Ukraine be given fast-track membership into the European Union?
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The majority of MEPs seem to think so. Although they may not see eye to eye on the how or the exact when, most MEPs think Ukrainian EU membership would send a strong message of support to Ukrainians and one of defiance to the Kremlin.
To mark four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, this week on The Ring, we are joined by two Lithuanian MEPs: Aurelijus Veryga from the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) group and Petras Auštrevičius from the liberal Renew Europe group.
Although from opposing political families, one conservative and the other liberal, both agree that Ukraine belongs inside the European Union. This edition asks the big question: Is enlargement a test of solidarity, a measure of Europe’s strategic power, or both?
When asked about setting a clear accession date, Veryga argues that the target should be ambitious and aims for 2030: “If we say 2027, technically, it won’t happen before 2030, but it adjusts our attempts to speed up.”
For Petras Auštrevičius, “we have pronounced many good promises towards Ukraine. We said Ukraine is a part of Europe. Now we have to deliver. Let’s start moving, the sooner the better.”
This episode of The Ring is anchored by Méabh Mc Mahon, produced by Luis Albertos and Amaia Echevarria, and edited by Vassilis Glynos.
Watch The Ring on Euronews TV or in the player above and send us your views by writing to thering@euronews.com
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