The archaeological investigation of the site of the former Greyfriars in Leicester, where Richard III was buried, started at the end of last week.

The project started by using ground-penetrating radar to help find the best places to dig.  Over the weekend machinery was brought in to dig two trenches in the opposite direction of the where the walls of the church are expected to be (running west to east).  As with all archaeological digs, the most recently deposited material is on top, so the researchers will have to dig through several layers till they reach the one where the medieval church is expected to be.

Yesterday the University of Leicester announced that they discovered several remains, which are believed to be medieval walls, but this would need further assessment.  If these remains turn out to be from the walls of the church, this would give the archaeologists vital clues on where are the best places to dig.

The University also announced that the dig is being filmed for “a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary to be aired later this year”.  After the rather negative remarks most of us received when we send emails urging Channel 4 to make such a documentary, irrespective of whether Richard’s remains were found or not, this sounds more positive.

Keep up to date with the latest developments on site at the University of Leicester.

And last but not least, I would like a share cartoon with you which my Google Alert found for me.  Click here, but disregard the hump!

Tags: Archaeology, Leicester, Leicester Greyfriars Dig, Richard

Today we have really exciting news for all our readers!

After being killed in the Battle of Bosworth by the invading forces of Henry Tudor, the body of King Richard III was brought back to Leicester and eventually buried at the church of the Greyfriars, a Franciscan Friary.  Over time the exact location of the friary was lost, but archaeologists think it might be under what is now a carpark.

After long planning, tomorrow, 25 August 2012, a dig is to start at the site to try and establish the exact location of the former Greyfriars church and to find any remains of those, who were buried in the church.

The dig is carried out in cooperation by the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council in association with the Richard III Society.  It is the first ever search for the lost grave of an anointed King of England.

The work of John Ashdown-Hill has established a descendant in the all-female line of Richard’s mother, Cecily of York, in Canada, whose DNA could be used to establish whether any remains are indeed those of the lost – but not forgotten – king.

For more information, as well as a call on Channel 4 to commission a programme on this historic dig, go to the What’s New page of our parent Society.  Please do support the campaign for the programme!

The official page on the project by the University of Leicester can be found here.

You can read a press release by Richard Buckley of the University of Leicester here.

The search for Richard’s DNA is explained in:  John Ashdown-Hill, The Last Days of Richard III.  The History Press, Stroud, 2010.  ISBN 978 0 7524 5404 7 – also available for Kindle

Tags: Archaeology, Leicester, Leicester Greyfriars Dig, Richard III

One of the most poignant finds at the recent discovery of the “real” battlesite at Bosworth was a gilt solid silver boar, which was found by a metal detectorist (see here).  Now another boar brooch has been found, this time near the village of Stillingfleet in Richard III’s “home” county of Yorkshire.

The brooch depicting a wild boar has been dated to the 15th Century, which makes a connection to Richard, whose symbol was the white boar, likely.

The above photograph shows a modern day replica of the Bosworth boar.  Items like this are worn with pride by our branch members at Ricardian events.  They are available from the Richard III Society (go to ‘Society Shop’, it is on page 7 of the Catalogue).

Source:

‘Two medieval brooches discovered’, Selby Times (17 December 2011).  URL:  http://www.selbytimes.co.uk/news/local-news/district-news/two_medieval_brooches_discovered_1_4059814 Date accessed:  18 December 2011

Tags: Archaeology, Richard III