The human remains discovered beneath a parking lot in Leicester, England have been confirmed as those of the 15th century English king, Richard III:
A skeleton found beneath a Leicester car park has been confirmed as that of English king Richard III.
Experts from the University of Leicester said DNA from the bones matched that of descendants of the monarch’s family.
Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, from the University of Leicester, told a press conference to applause: “Beyond reasonable doubt it’s Richard.”
Richard, killed in battle in 1485, will be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral.
Mr Buckley said the bones had been subjected to “rigorous academic study” and had been carbon dated to a period from 1455-1540.
Dr Jo Appleby, an osteo-archaeologist from the university’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History, revealed the bones were of a man in his late 20s or early 30s. Richard was 32 when he died.
His skeleton had suffered 10 injuries, including eight to the skull, at around the time of death. Two of the skull wounds were potentially fatal.
No hunchback or withered arm, as he’s been portrayed over the centuries, but he did have scoliosis. The cause of death was sharp force trauma.
Researchers are confident not only because of the carbon-dating and physical findings but DNA analysis as well.
I read about it this morning – just amazing.