Since he’s most famous for being a Shakespearean villain, this story on the dig for Richard III’s bones would seem to be appropriate in this blog.
A dig under a council car park in Leicester has found remains with spinal abnormalities and a “cleaved-in skull” that suggest it could be Richard III.
The University of Leicester will now test the bones for DNA against descendants of Richard’s family.
Professor Lin Foxhall, head of the university’s School of Archaeology, said: “Archaeology almost never finds named individuals – this is absolutely extraordinary.
“Although we are far from certain yet, it is already astonishing.”
If it is Dick, this will solve at least one of the questions that has made him such a contentious figure in historical circles. As I understand it, the Ricardians (defenders of Richard III) have long insisted that the story that he was a “hunchback” was mostly Tudor propaganda. But if this skeleton shows signs of serious scoliosis, that will… well, it won’t settle anything. But it will be interesting.
Tip: Archaeology in Europe.
I’m a big Richard III fan; even have his portrait hanging in my office. As far as I’m concerned, Josephine Tey nailed his critics in “The Daughter of Time.” An excellent read.