Human remains confirmed as those of King Richard III
HUMAN remains discovered buried in
the lost medieval Greyfriars church beneath Leicester city centre have
been confirmed as those of King Richard III.The University of Leicester announced on Monday, February 4, that there was overwhelming scientific evidence that the remains, of a battle-scarred man with a spinal curvature, were indeed those of the last
Plantagenet king, whose
body was brought to Leicester, stripped and publicly displayed following
his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
At a press conference attended by more than
140 journalists, film crew and photographers from around the world,
experts from the University of Leicester explained how evidence from the
dig was used in conjunction with DNA, genealogy, carbon dating and
other scientific methods to confirm the identity of Richard III beyond
any reasonable doubt.Richard Buckley, the University of Leicester archaeologist who led the search for Richard III, said: "It is the academic conclusion of the University of Leicester that the individual exhumed at Grey Friars, Leicester, in August 2012, is indeed Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England.
"Beyond reasonable doubt it's Richard."
As part of the public announcement, Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby has also announced that the remains will be reinterred at Leicester's St Martin's Cathedral - just a stone's throw away from where the king's skeleton was discovered.
Peter Soulsby said: "This astonishing announcement is far beyond what anyone expected in their wildest dreams when the search at Greyfriars first began.
An exhibition telling the dramatic story of the search for and discovery of King Richard III is due to open at Leicester Guildhall on Friday, February 8.
Details of the exhibition will be available at: www.visitleicester.info/richardIII
CLICK HERE to watch a video edited by the BBC informing about the discovery.
CLICK HERE to watch a video edited by the BBC informing about the discovery.
