The King in the Car Park: The Discovery and Identification of Richard III - Professor Kevin Schürer

TL;DR

The talk discusses the interdisciplinary project that led to the discovery and identification of Richard III's remains, including the archaeological excavation, DNA analysis, and forensic examination.

Transcript

um well thank you uh s rodri for that um wonderful introduction um um I I often think about the research I do uh and maybe the contribution I make and I perhaps never thought about it in the terms that um sir rodri just expressed but looking back um not that we'll dwell on it here um but yes looking back over the last 20 I don't know 30 years almos... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪪 The discovery and identification of Richard III's remains required an interdisciplinary approach, involving archaeologists, geneticists, and historians.
• 🖐️ Historical accounts and archaeological evidence played a crucial role in locating the burial site of Richard III.
• 🤘 The examination of the remains revealed significant findings, such as a curved spine, battle injuries, and signs of postmortem humiliation.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker and their team identify the location of Richard III's burial site?

The speaker and their team used historical accounts and archaeological evidence to identify the location of the Gray Friars church in Leicester, where Richard III was known to have been buried. They conducted radar technology scans and excavation trenches to uncover the church and choir area.

Q: What were the key findings during the examination of Richard III's remains?

The examination revealed a curved spine, indicative of scoliosis, which matched contemporary descriptions of Richard III. Additionally, the remains showed multiple battle injuries, including a dagger wound to the cheek and several wounds to the skull. There were also signs of postmortem humiliation, such as a wound on the buttocks.

Q: What DNA analysis was conducted to confirm the identity of the remains?

Two types of DNA analysis were performed: mitochondrial DNA analysis and Y chromosome analysis. Mitochondrial DNA from a living descendant of Richard III's sister matched the remains, providing evidence of a common female ancestor. The Y chromosome analysis showed a break in the lineage, indicating possible paternity issues.

Q: What is the overall conclusion about the identity of the remains?

Based on the archaeological, forensic, and DNA evidence, there is an overwhelming probability (99.99 9% or higher) that the remains found in Leicester belong to Richard III.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The talk begins with an introduction to the speaker's previous contributions to National Archive projects before delving into the main topic of Richard III's discovery and identification.

• The speaker discusses the historical context of Richard III's movements in Leicester and provides key locations associated with him, such as Bosworth Field and the Gray Friars church.

• The talk then focuses on the archaeological excavation and the analysis of Richard III's remains, including the examination of his curved spine, battle injuries, and DNA testing.