Dig Thinks It's Found Richard III Under Car Park

Archeologists find skeleton with curved spine, arrow through back
By Liam Carnahan,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 12, 2012 10:40 AM CDT
Dig Thinks It's Found Richard III Under Car Park
Undated University of Leicester handout photo of a stone frieze, which may have been from a choir stall, which was discovered during an excavation of the car park behind council offices in Leicester.   (AP Photo/ University of Leicester)

Archeologists in England think they may have indeed found the remains of the "tyrant king" Richard III in a dig under a car park in Leicester, reports the Daily Mail. They announced today that a number of factors that make them think it's the real deal, most notably the curved spine (Richard was thought to have scoliosis) and an arrow through the back (he died in battle just two years after taking the throne). The skull also shows signs of trauma apparently inflicted around the time of death. Researchers are moving the remains to a laboratory for testing, where they will compare the skeleton's DNA to that of a descendent of the King's.

"Archaeology almost never finds named individuals—this is absolutely extraordinary," the head of Leicester's University of Archaeology tells the BBC. "Although we are far from certain yet, it is already astonishing." DNA tests are expected to take about 12 weeks to complete. If they confirm that the remains are indeed Richard's, Leicester Cathedral says it will work with the Royal Household and Richard III society to rebury them with all appropriate ceremonies. (More excavation stories.)

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