2 of Galileo's fingers found 300 years later

Two fingers cut from the hand of Italian Astronomer Galileo nearly 300 years ago have been discovered in an Italian museum, spokesman said Monday.

In 1737, 3 fingers were cut from Galileo's hand when his body was moved to Florence, Italy. A tooth in his lower jaw was taken also. The last description of the items and contents contained within the jars occurred in 1905, over 100 years ago. The relics were inside a blown glass vase, which was in a wooden case topped with a wooden crest of Galileo, the museum said. "Everybody knew there were fingers and a tooth, but the people preparing the auction didn't know it was Galileo." The items were put on auction recently, and the museum will display the items in March 2010. Galileo died in 1642, and was condemned by the Vatican for saying the Earth revolved around the Sun.

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