In 2004–2005 the news went around the world on the quest for Nicholas Copernicus’s grave in Cathedral in Frombork (Warmia, Poland). Then in 2006 the identification (with 97% probability) of this grave was reported. The crucial argument that spoke in favour of this identification was an alleged resamblance among a forensic reconstruction of the face of the skull labeled as 13/05 and the portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus from Muzeum Okręgowe w Toruniu. These studies were continued in 2005–2009, when they were extended to include genealogical research and DNA analyses.
Though I am a determined supporter of the quests for Nicholas Copernicus’s grave, I take a critic stance with respect to the value of the argu-mentation and empirical evidence presented during these quests. See:
- The search for the grave of Copernicus. Reflections of advocatus diaboli. Part 1. Considerations in the context of current archaeological research (according to the status of research as of September 15, 2005, as reported in the press and online publications) (In Polish, the first version published on 30.10.2005). Paper edition: Michał Kokowski, Poszukiwania grobu Kopernika. Refleksje advocati diaboli. Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki R. 52: 2007 nr 1, pp. 121–131.
- The search for the grave of Copernicus. Reflections of advocatus diaboli. Part 2. Considerations in the context of current research (as of February 2006). (In Polish; the first version published on 22.12.2005). Paper edition: Michał Kokowski, Poszukiwania grobu Kopernika. Refleksje advocati diaboli. Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki R. 52: 2007 nr 1, pp. 131–151.
The two articles are the first critic papers in the literature on the theme.
- On the defectiveness of the argument for the finality of the discovery of the remains of Nicolaus Copernicus. Part 1: Results and interpretation of historical, archaeological, anthropological and anthroposcopic research. [In:] Michał Kokowski (ed.), The Nicolaus Copernicus grave mystery. A dialog of experts. Kraków, 22–23 February 2010. Kraków: Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, pp. 169–207. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20240414165214/https://home.cyf-kr.edu.pl/~n1kokows/M.Kokowski-On-the-defectiveness-1-169-207.pdf (accessed on 22 January, 2026). (This paper was published originally in Polish in: Michał Kokowski (red.), Tajemnica grobu Mikołaja Kopernika. Dialog ekspertów (Kraków 22–23 II 2010) (2012), pp. 177–215.)
- On the defectiveness of the argument for the finality of the discovery of the remains of Nicolaus Copernicus. Part 2: Results and interpretation of genealogical, historical and genetic research. [In:] Michał Kokowski (ed.), The Nicolus Copernicus grave mystery. A dialog of experts (2015), pp. 209–304. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20250120210422/https://home.cyf-kr.edu.pl/~n1kokows/M.Kokowski-On-the-defectiveness-2-209-304.pdf (accessed on 22 January, 2026). (This paper was published originally in Polish in: Michał Kokowski (red.), Tajemnica grobu Mikołaja Kopernika. Dialog ekspertów (Kraków 22–23 II 2010) (2012), pp. 217–314.)
- (with Adam Walanus) Potential usefulness of radiocarbon dating for the authentication of Nicolaus Copernicus’s grave. [In:] Michał Kokowski (ed.) Michał Kokowski (ed.), The Nicolus Copernicus grave mystery. A dialog of experts. (2015), pp. 159–168. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20240414173717/https://home.cyf-kr.edu.pl/~n1kokows/walanus-kokowski-potential-usefulness-159-168.pdf (accessed on 22 January, 2026). (This paper was published originally in Polish in: Michał Kokowski (red.), Tajemnica grobu Mikołaja Kopernika. Dialog ekspertów (Kraków 22–23 II 2010) (2012), pp. 157–166.)
- The discovery of Nicolaus Copernicus’ grave: media or scientific fact (in Polish)? Komunikaty Mazursko-Warmińskie 2014 nr 4(286), pp. 567–600. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20240402143312/https://home.cyf-kr.edu.pl/~n1kokows/Kokowski-KMW-4-2014.pdf (accessed on 22 January, 2026).
- Has the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus been discovered (in Polish)? Wiadomości Matematyczne 2020 56(2), pp. 311–317. URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20250219120438/https://home.cyf-kr.edu.pl/~n1kokows/M.Kokowski-WM-2020.pdf (accessed on 22 January, 2026).
These articles bring new, original and important critical comments on the assessment of the thesis about the discovery of the grave of Nicholas Copernicus and the identification of his alleged remains.
It is worth noting that:
- the author of the article is the only Polish person who holds a doctor degree, a higher one called in Poland “doktor habilitowany” (habilitated doctor), and a title of professor in the field of Copernican studies — see Thomas S. Kuhn and the issue of the Copernican revolution (“Studia Copernicana”, vol. 39 2001), Copernicus’s Originality. Towards Integration of Contemporary Copernican Studies (Warsaw–Cracow 2004), and Different faces of Nicholas Copernicus. Meetings with a history of interpretations (Warsaw–Kraków 2009);
- he is also the actual co-author and one of the signatories (on behalf of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciencs) of the so-called Frombork Declaration to encourage further research and competent popularization of achievements of Nicolaus Copernicus.