The skeleton found under a parking lot in Leicester has been confirmed as that of Richard III. DNA samples taken from the bones match samples from two known descendants of Richard's family. One descendant wishes to remain anonymous; the other, Michael Ibsen, is a 17th-generation descendant of Richard's sister.
DNA is not the only evidence scholars have for concluding that the skeleton was Richard. The location of the grave, the site of a medieval priory, matches the place where period records indicate Richard was laid to rest. The skeleton shows severe scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that corresponds with the description of Richard as having been a "hunchback." And damage to the skull and other bones indicates that the man was not only killed in battle, he suffered "humiliation wounds" consistent with the description of the desecration of Richard's corpse after the Battle of Bosworth Field. Taken together, all the evidence is about as conclusive as scientists can get after five hundred years.
Find out more in these news reports:
- Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king's
Article at BBC News Leicester.
- Bones Under Parking Lot Belonged to Richard III
Two-page feature by John F. Burns and Alan Cowell at the New York Times.
- Skeleton found in car park is that of Richard III - as it happened
Extensive blog by Paul Owen at the Guardian includes photos and a timeline of breaking news events.
- King Richard III Found Under Parking Lot
Video at ABC News perpetuates Richard's bad rep.
- Scientists identify remains as those of King Richard III
Excellent photo of the skull accompanies Henry Chu's article at the LA Times.
- England's King Richard III found after 500 years
Fairly extensive article by Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge, edited by Maria Golovnina and Peter Millership, at Reuters.
- Digging up Richard III will not bury old arguments
At the Guardian, Paul Lay points out some reasonable objections to the assertion that the discovery of Richard's bones will "rewrite the history books."
We've been following this story since August, 2012. Check out these items to catch up:
- Is Richard III buried under a parking lot?
- Update: the search for Richard III's grave advances with discovery of lost church
- Update: Archaeological team searching for Richard III's remains find bones
- Richard's bones revisited
- Tug-of-war over king Richard III's bones
Scroll down to the last item in this News Roundup.
Comments
The recreation of his face and head was wonderful. I wish they would do more of them on other rulers. It would be great to get a better idea of what they really looked like, instead of the often bad or overly flattering court portraits.