Skeleton of middle-aged male suffering from scoliosis and dead in battle…
In a grave at the entrance to the choir in the floor of the former Greyfriars in Leicester, exactly where it was expected, archaeologist have exhumed a body of a heavily built man of normal height with an articulated scoliosis, which must have made him higher in the right shoulder than the left. But definitely not a hunchback as Richard III was afterwards slandered to have been. At the upper vertebrae a barbed metal arrowhead was found, although not imbedded in the bone. The skull showed signs of heavy peri-mortal injuries, but it will be possible to do a facial reconstruction. The archaeologists have concluded that the skeleton obviously must have belonged to a person who died in a battle. Whether or not it really is the remnants of Richard III, none of the present archaeologists or scientists were willing to be definitive about. But as one of the spokespersons present at the press conference said: It is very, very likely”.
Apparently the grave was found already on the 31. of august, when Leicester applied to the Ministry of Justice to commence the exhumation, which began on the 4th of September.
The skeleton will undergo rigorous scientific examinations during the next twelve weeks in order to ascertain – if possible – the true identity of the person found in the grave. Foremost a DNA-test will be performed. At the press-conference today the leading scientist of the team was positive about the possibility of extracting DNA as what is really needed is just the mitochondrial part, which is less prone to be damaged through time. And which may be compared to a living descendant of Richard III.
Photos of the remains have not been released since “all human remains are being treated in full accordance with the University of Leicester’s ethical policy for dealing with human remains”
At the press conference it was once again voiced that the decision as to where the remains will be buried has as yet not been confirmed, but that leicester cathedral finds it appropriate that he is reburied in the parish, where he was laid to rest 537 years ago. However the decision is expected to be made thorgh consultations between the Royal Household, the Bishop and the Dean at leicester cathedral, where a memorial stone was placed a few years ago.
In a statement the The Very Revd Vivienne Faul, the Dean declared that “if the identity of the remains is confirmed, Leicester Cathedral will continue to work with the Royal Household, and with the Richard III Society, to ensure that his remains are treated with dignity and respect and are reburied with the appropriate rites and ceremonies of the church”
Read the live-twiiters at the press site of Leicester University
Read other articles about Richard III, Middleham Castle, The Book of Hours and the Bosworth Boar