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Digging for Richard III: The Search for the Lost King
In 2012, archaeologists found the grave of Richard III. Its site had been unknown for centuries. The quest had taken years of preparation followed by intensive archaeological study and almost no one had expected a result. As the astonishing story of the discovery emerged, millions watched around the world.
First came the news that archaeologists were searching for a king in a parking lot. Next it was said they had located the church where Richard had been buried. Finally it was announced that a skeleton with a curved spine and battle wounds had been found and was thought to be that of Richard. Archaeologists urged caution as media frenzy led to questions in Parliament. The scientific consensus came early in 2013. All the studies, including analysis of anatomy, DNA, high-resolution scanning and a digital facial reconstruction, led to the conclusion that the skeleton was indeed Richard III, England's most disputed monarch and the probable murderer of the Princes in the Tower.
The events of Richard III's reign and his death in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth are known worldwide, made popular by Shakespeare's most performed, filmed and translated history play. Digging for Richard III is the page-turning story of how his grave was found and the people behind the discovery. It is the first complete narrative of a project that blended passion, science, luck and detection. Told by a noted archaeologist with access to all the parties involved, it follows the quest from an idea born in an Edinburgh bookshop to the day, fourteen years later, when two archaeologists carefully raised the bones from the parking lot in Leicester, and the scientific studies that resulted.
The vivid tale of a king, his demise and his rediscovery, this is also an insider's gripping account of how modern archaeology, forensics and the meticulous analysis of clues can come together to create a narrative worthy of the finest detective fiction.
First came the news that archaeologists were searching for a king in a parking lot. Next it was said they had located the church where Richard had been buried. Finally it was announced that a skeleton with a curved spine and battle wounds had been found and was thought to be that of Richard. Archaeologists urged caution as media frenzy led to questions in Parliament. The scientific consensus came early in 2013. All the studies, including analysis of anatomy, DNA, high-resolution scanning and a digital facial reconstruction, led to the conclusion that the skeleton was indeed Richard III, England's most disputed monarch and the probable murderer of the Princes in the Tower.
The events of Richard III's reign and his death in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth are known worldwide, made popular by Shakespeare's most performed, filmed and translated history play. Digging for Richard III is the page-turning story of how his grave was found and the people behind the discovery. It is the first complete narrative of a project that blended passion, science, luck and detection. Told by a noted archaeologist with access to all the parties involved, it follows the quest from an idea born in an Edinburgh bookshop to the day, fourteen years later, when two archaeologists carefully raised the bones from the parking lot in Leicester, and the scientific studies that resulted.
The vivid tale of a king, his demise and his rediscovery, this is also an insider's gripping account of how modern archaeology, forensics and the meticulous analysis of clues can come together to create a narrative worthy of the finest detective fiction.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
March 27, 2015
This book gives a fascinating account of the archaeological dig which unearthed the bones of Richard III under a car park in Leicester. Although the bones were confirmed as Richard III’s remains in February 2013 the dig began in August 2012 and, of course, the background goes back many years before that. The book begins with a summary of Richard’s life – the last English monarch to die in battle. There are also all the rumours about where Richard was supposedly buried and what might have become of his body – including myths it was later thrown into a nearby river.
It was screenwriter Philippa Langley, along with the extremely capable and enthusiastic, Richard III Society, who eventually approached archaeologist Richard Buckley with the idea of searching for Richard’s remains. Philippa Langley’s story is an intriguing one; she became interested in Richard II almost by chance and, instinctually, she felt he was buried in the car park when she visited there. It is easy, in this scientific study, to overlook such things as human intuition – but I am not sure you can ignore them completely. Certainly, Philippa Langley did her research, but her cold shivers while standing in a Leicester car park, is certainly part of the story.
It is fair to say that, even while the University of Leicester were brought on side, their priorities were different from those of Philippa Langley and the Society. While Langley was clear that her interest was in finding Richard III, Richard Buckley and his team were more interested in discovering the church of the Greyfriars, where he was rumoured to be buried, and which lay in the area of the dig. Indeed, Richard Buckley informed Philippa Langley that they were unlikely to be successful is discovering much, but she was optimistic. Indeed, despite setbacks and lack of funding, it was an astonishing dig – with major finds, including those of the skeleton which was later proven to be Richard III, coming thick and fast.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well told, from the very beginning, through all the testing and research done later – from the excavation to the DNA testing and facial reconstruction. Of course, the research continues, but already we have learnt more about how Richard III loved, died, was buried and later forgotten. This dig was full of controversy, but also made possible by effort and enthusiasm. If you are interested in discovering how Richard III was found and the background behind the search, this is a very interesting, and well written, read.
It was screenwriter Philippa Langley, along with the extremely capable and enthusiastic, Richard III Society, who eventually approached archaeologist Richard Buckley with the idea of searching for Richard’s remains. Philippa Langley’s story is an intriguing one; she became interested in Richard II almost by chance and, instinctually, she felt he was buried in the car park when she visited there. It is easy, in this scientific study, to overlook such things as human intuition – but I am not sure you can ignore them completely. Certainly, Philippa Langley did her research, but her cold shivers while standing in a Leicester car park, is certainly part of the story.
It is fair to say that, even while the University of Leicester were brought on side, their priorities were different from those of Philippa Langley and the Society. While Langley was clear that her interest was in finding Richard III, Richard Buckley and his team were more interested in discovering the church of the Greyfriars, where he was rumoured to be buried, and which lay in the area of the dig. Indeed, Richard Buckley informed Philippa Langley that they were unlikely to be successful is discovering much, but she was optimistic. Indeed, despite setbacks and lack of funding, it was an astonishing dig – with major finds, including those of the skeleton which was later proven to be Richard III, coming thick and fast.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well told, from the very beginning, through all the testing and research done later – from the excavation to the DNA testing and facial reconstruction. Of course, the research continues, but already we have learnt more about how Richard III loved, died, was buried and later forgotten. This dig was full of controversy, but also made possible by effort and enthusiasm. If you are interested in discovering how Richard III was found and the background behind the search, this is a very interesting, and well written, read.
March 27, 2022
Just a few weeks ago I finished The War of the Roses by Dan Jones and gave it five stars. This book, Digging for Richard III, has been on my reading list for a long time. I figured I might as well read it now before I forget my just learned facts concerning this dynastic war. I'm glad I did.
In the first chapter the author, Mike Pitts, outlined the history of the war and how Richard III was killed in battle. I don't know if this chapter alone would have been sufficient for me to understand the war. His summary was necessarily truncated because the goal of this book is to describe the discovery of Richard III's grave under a parking lot in 2012 - not to tell medieval history.
Probably the most amazing thing about this dig is how easily the puzzle pieces fell into place for the archeologists. The author was great at communicating the sense of wonder the scientists must have felt at each discovery. Found so quickly they had a hard time (in an archaeologist's sense of time) catching their breath. What an experience it must have been.
In the first chapter the author, Mike Pitts, outlined the history of the war and how Richard III was killed in battle. I don't know if this chapter alone would have been sufficient for me to understand the war. His summary was necessarily truncated because the goal of this book is to describe the discovery of Richard III's grave under a parking lot in 2012 - not to tell medieval history.
Probably the most amazing thing about this dig is how easily the puzzle pieces fell into place for the archeologists. The author was great at communicating the sense of wonder the scientists must have felt at each discovery. Found so quickly they had a hard time (in an archaeologist's sense of time) catching their breath. What an experience it must have been.
November 16, 2014
This book could easily have been some boring academic treatise but it is exactly the opposite. It is one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. It covers Richard III' s life and death at Bosworth, one lady's obsession with his story and getting him found, convincing groups to fund an archeological dig, the dig it's self, reassembling the skeleton, identifying injuries, reconstructing his face and finally DNA confirmation that the skeleton actually is Richard III. An easy read that just rips along like a good mystery should.
This will be one of my all time favourite books!
This will be one of my all time favourite books!
May 9, 2014
An enjoyable and easy read that manages to avoid the slow and difficult pacing that similar books often encounter. This is probably because it is less of a history book and more of a recounting of the build up to the excavation, the dig itself and the aftermath. Whilst it does include a chapter that gives the reader a basic understanding of Richard III's life and the cultural turmoil that England was in, the main focus is on the archaeology.
The other main factor in making this book an enjoyable read is the writing style. Mike Pitt's writes with all the ease and knowledge that you would expect from someone who has been editing Britain's major archaeology magazine (British Archaeology), and this book will appeal to enthusiasts and professionals alike because of this.
Although it does examine what went on behind the scenes, in particular the differing motivations between the archaeologists and the Ricardians, if I was being picky I would have personally preferred a bit more 'academic rigor' and more information on the science-side of things. He does a good job of explaining the techniques that are mentioned however without being too technical, for example when he talks about how radiocarbon dating works, and this once again is to the books credit.
Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the excavation at Grey Friars and the recovery of Richard III's remains. Lacks some of the scientific rigor of an academic report, but then that's not what Mike Pitts aimed to achieve anyway. This book aims to cut through the hype of the media and deliver a balanced account of the evidence - and it does just that.
The other main factor in making this book an enjoyable read is the writing style. Mike Pitt's writes with all the ease and knowledge that you would expect from someone who has been editing Britain's major archaeology magazine (British Archaeology), and this book will appeal to enthusiasts and professionals alike because of this.
Although it does examine what went on behind the scenes, in particular the differing motivations between the archaeologists and the Ricardians, if I was being picky I would have personally preferred a bit more 'academic rigor' and more information on the science-side of things. He does a good job of explaining the techniques that are mentioned however without being too technical, for example when he talks about how radiocarbon dating works, and this once again is to the books credit.
Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the excavation at Grey Friars and the recovery of Richard III's remains. Lacks some of the scientific rigor of an academic report, but then that's not what Mike Pitts aimed to achieve anyway. This book aims to cut through the hype of the media and deliver a balanced account of the evidence - and it does just that.
May 24, 2015
I've decided not to finish this. I was an Anglophile in college, and was particularly interested in the much maligned Richard III. I was fascinated when his bones were recently found and watched tv footage about it. But somehow this very interesting king and finding make for this quite boring book. The author throws an awful lot of names at us, and the tiny print does not help.
June 10, 2021
juhtumisi kolisin ma Inglismaale elama 2012. aasta augustis, enamvähem täpselt samal päeval, kui Leicesteri sotsiaalameti parklas kopp maasse löödi ja sellega Richard III sääreluud tabati. nii et sellal, kui järgmise paari aasta jooksul kogu riik ja rahvas erutatult kuninga teemadel kaasa elas, tegelesin mina hoopis korteriotsingute, pangaarve avamise, metrooliinide tundmaõppimise ja muude sisseelamistoimingutega. kohalikke uudiseid ma veel väga regulaarselt ei lugenud; sellest, kus on Leicester, polnud mul veel aimugi; Rooside sõda seostasin ainult Suurmõmmikuga. ma põhimõtteliselt teadsin, et nad parklast mingi olulise luukere leidsid, aga tõesti ei süvenenud, kes ja millise ja kuidas ja kuhu nad ta hiljem panid.
nüüd siis järeleaitamistund selle osas, mis kõik toimus mu juuresolekul, aga siiski kõrgelt üle pea lendas. kuna Richardi olemasoluga ja tähtsusega Inglismaa aja- ja kultuuriloos olen end vahepeal jõudnud kurssi viia, siis esimene peatükk tundus tüütuvõitu (ei, ma ei kavatsegi hakata kõigil neil samanimelistel kuningatel ja troonipretendentidel vahet tegema); aga kui jutt jõudis tänapäeva ja tegelike väljakaevamisteni, siis läks kõik päris meeleolukaks.
(vahemärkusena pean ka ütlema, et mul vedeles kuude kaupa voodi kõrval lugemise ootel kellegi Philippa Langley raamat Richard III leidmisest, aga just hiljuti mariekondotasin ta minema, sest ilmselgelt ei jõudnud tema järjekord kunagi kätte ja kes see Philippa Langley üldse on selline? nojah, siit Pittsi raamatust sain teada, et kogu richardiotsimise projekti algataja ja võtmetegelane, ehk siis kindlasti mitte eikeegi; aga samas ei tundu ta inimesena, kelle emotsioone antud teemal ma oleks soovinud lugeda, nii et sellega läks hästi. siiski, kas pole mitte imeline saatuse kokkusattumus, peaaegu nagu seisaks parklas R-tähe peal ja sisetunne ütleks, et siin see kuningas peidus ongi?)
tegelt ikkagi päris asjalik raamat selle osas, et tõesti palju sai teada sellest, milleks teadus tänapäeval suuteline on, kui asi puudutab skeleti põhjal inimese identifitseerimist ja rekonstrueerimist. ja nende arheoloogide suhtes on mu imetlus suur, viitsivad inimesed ikka nokitseda. ja samas showd ka kaasa teha, kaamerasse naeratada ja tseremooniatel osaleda.
samas poleks kogu see lugu olnud üldse see ilma sinna juurde käiva bürokraatliku, poliitilise ja religioosse sahmimiseta. mind ei üllata, aga lõbustab, kuidas parlamendini välja käisid kirglikud vaidlused, kuhu see luukere siis lõpuks jõudma peaks ja kes ta sinna paneb. naljavennad.
kui ma järgmine kord Leicesteri kanti satun, siis lähen täitsa vaatan tähtsamad sündmuspaigad üle. ma mõtlen, parkla ja siis ka ehk katedraali, mitte Bosworthi lahinguvälja. see kaevamislugu oli PALJU huvitavam, kui see tobe rooside sõda!
nüüd siis järeleaitamistund selle osas, mis kõik toimus mu juuresolekul, aga siiski kõrgelt üle pea lendas. kuna Richardi olemasoluga ja tähtsusega Inglismaa aja- ja kultuuriloos olen end vahepeal jõudnud kurssi viia, siis esimene peatükk tundus tüütuvõitu (ei, ma ei kavatsegi hakata kõigil neil samanimelistel kuningatel ja troonipretendentidel vahet tegema); aga kui jutt jõudis tänapäeva ja tegelike väljakaevamisteni, siis läks kõik päris meeleolukaks.
(vahemärkusena pean ka ütlema, et mul vedeles kuude kaupa voodi kõrval lugemise ootel kellegi Philippa Langley raamat Richard III leidmisest, aga just hiljuti mariekondotasin ta minema, sest ilmselgelt ei jõudnud tema järjekord kunagi kätte ja kes see Philippa Langley üldse on selline? nojah, siit Pittsi raamatust sain teada, et kogu richardiotsimise projekti algataja ja võtmetegelane, ehk siis kindlasti mitte eikeegi; aga samas ei tundu ta inimesena, kelle emotsioone antud teemal ma oleks soovinud lugeda, nii et sellega läks hästi. siiski, kas pole mitte imeline saatuse kokkusattumus, peaaegu nagu seisaks parklas R-tähe peal ja sisetunne ütleks, et siin see kuningas peidus ongi?)
tegelt ikkagi päris asjalik raamat selle osas, et tõesti palju sai teada sellest, milleks teadus tänapäeval suuteline on, kui asi puudutab skeleti põhjal inimese identifitseerimist ja rekonstrueerimist. ja nende arheoloogide suhtes on mu imetlus suur, viitsivad inimesed ikka nokitseda. ja samas showd ka kaasa teha, kaamerasse naeratada ja tseremooniatel osaleda.
samas poleks kogu see lugu olnud üldse see ilma sinna juurde käiva bürokraatliku, poliitilise ja religioosse sahmimiseta. mind ei üllata, aga lõbustab, kuidas parlamendini välja käisid kirglikud vaidlused, kuhu see luukere siis lõpuks jõudma peaks ja kes ta sinna paneb. naljavennad.
kui ma järgmine kord Leicesteri kanti satun, siis lähen täitsa vaatan tähtsamad sündmuspaigad üle. ma mõtlen, parkla ja siis ka ehk katedraali, mitte Bosworthi lahinguvälja. see kaevamislugu oli PALJU huvitavam, kui see tobe rooside sõda!
June 10, 2021
I loved this book. I admire the team who dedicated so much to recover this king. No matter the feelings towards Richard the third he was a king and he deserved a kingly resting place. He was a great warrior no matter what faults he had. I think he has been unjustly given a villainous persona. He was a king and all kings before him demonstrated strong actions. I am glad he has been found by dedicated people who wanted him found and honored. Many scholars believe Richards reputation was Tudor propaganda. The Tudor’s made him a villain worse than he actually was. He lived in a turbulent violent time. The Tudor kings executed many people but Richard is remembered as a villainous king. This is a debate that will go on and on. The dna testing and facial reconstruction is fascinating. A great read on all
Aspects of finding the church and Richard.
Aspects of finding the church and Richard.
June 19, 2024
Detailed account of the discovery, retrieval and reburial of Richard the Third after his discovery under a Leicester carpark. It tells how he was identified by DNA comparison with a living descendant, amongst other things but offered no thoughts or theories about the fate of the Princes in the Tower, which I was pleased about; thats a whole different subject!
January 28, 2015
In 2012, archaeologists unexpectedly found the remains of Richard III, King of England and Shakespearean Bad Guy. This wouldn't have happened if not for a crazy woman named Philippa Langley.*
Richard III was killed in a battle in 1485. His body was brought to the English town of Leicester and was believed to be buried in a friary there. Later, the body might have been dug up and tossed in a river by some ungrateful former subjects. If he was anything like the character in Shakespeare's play, their disaffection was understandable.
But there has always been controversy about Richard's character. Will didn't let history get in the way of a good plot. Also, Shakespeare was a man of his times, and in his times, England was ruled by Tudors. The Tudors had wrested the crown from the Yorks. Richard III was a York. To write a sympathetic treatment of a York king would be the ultimate Bad Career Move for a playwright.
For a number of reasons, Philippa believed that history was unfair to Richard. Finding his grave was part of her effort to rehabilitate his image. And she thought she knew where it was, because she had experienced an odd sensation when standing in a Leicester parking lot. Twice!
She made contact with archaeologists in Leicester. They didn't put any stock in Philippa's odd sensation, but they wanted to find the friary. If Philippa could raise the money for a dig, they were willing to dig. She did, and they did.
Some of the writing in this book can be a little hard to follow--the author is British, it seems to assume some basic knowledge of English history, and sometimes, it's just not clear. But it's an interesting tale of how science and irrational belief came together for a remarkable discovery.
* Goodreads Reader Activity: Name five things that wouldn't have happened if not for a crazy woman.**
**Your marriage doesn't count.
Richard III was killed in a battle in 1485. His body was brought to the English town of Leicester and was believed to be buried in a friary there. Later, the body might have been dug up and tossed in a river by some ungrateful former subjects. If he was anything like the character in Shakespeare's play, their disaffection was understandable.
But there has always been controversy about Richard's character. Will didn't let history get in the way of a good plot. Also, Shakespeare was a man of his times, and in his times, England was ruled by Tudors. The Tudors had wrested the crown from the Yorks. Richard III was a York. To write a sympathetic treatment of a York king would be the ultimate Bad Career Move for a playwright.
For a number of reasons, Philippa believed that history was unfair to Richard. Finding his grave was part of her effort to rehabilitate his image. And she thought she knew where it was, because she had experienced an odd sensation when standing in a Leicester parking lot. Twice!
She made contact with archaeologists in Leicester. They didn't put any stock in Philippa's odd sensation, but they wanted to find the friary. If Philippa could raise the money for a dig, they were willing to dig. She did, and they did.
Some of the writing in this book can be a little hard to follow--the author is British, it seems to assume some basic knowledge of English history, and sometimes, it's just not clear. But it's an interesting tale of how science and irrational belief came together for a remarkable discovery.
* Goodreads Reader Activity: Name five things that wouldn't have happened if not for a crazy woman.**
**Your marriage doesn't count.
February 8, 2015
"History is written by the victors." Winston Churchill
As a 12 yr old, I read a book called The Last Plantagenet, an utterly romantic book of historical fiction narrated by a young commoner who is the mistress of Richard III. The author makes the case, through this narration, that Richard III was vilified by history. Josephine Tey wrote a book about a bed bound detective who investigates the story and finds enough in the historical record to indicate that Richard III was NOT the villain that Shakespeare made him out to be. (Regardless of that, Richard III is an amazing play. The film starring Ian McClellan which places Richard III in a 1930's Nazi Britain is wonderful.) Shakespeare was, after all, trying to make the regime, Tudors, look good. Or so some would say. Perhaps he truly believed the stories that make Richard out to be evil and twisted, both in body and mind. A few months ago, I was listening to NPR which featured an interview with Mike Pitts, British archaeologist and author of this book. Happily, our library bought some copies. This is a fascinating and (mostly) absorbing book. It demonstrates the power of an individual, in this case, Phillipa Langley, a screenwriter and "presenter" who fell ill and took a book with her on vacation - one that most of us would not pick up. It was a book written in the 50's that said that history had it all wrong: Richard III was actually a good guy. By sheer force of will and her ability to connect with people, she literally gets the ball rolling. Who knew that there are Ricardian societies all over the world who love Richard III and defend his honor? Ms. Langley was able to get them excited enough to help with the project financially. The rest of the story in in this book. What got me interested was learning that they had found his skeleton under a car park in Leceistershire. If history and/or archaeology interest you, then get this book. It's a blast.
As a 12 yr old, I read a book called The Last Plantagenet, an utterly romantic book of historical fiction narrated by a young commoner who is the mistress of Richard III. The author makes the case, through this narration, that Richard III was vilified by history. Josephine Tey wrote a book about a bed bound detective who investigates the story and finds enough in the historical record to indicate that Richard III was NOT the villain that Shakespeare made him out to be. (Regardless of that, Richard III is an amazing play. The film starring Ian McClellan which places Richard III in a 1930's Nazi Britain is wonderful.) Shakespeare was, after all, trying to make the regime, Tudors, look good. Or so some would say. Perhaps he truly believed the stories that make Richard out to be evil and twisted, both in body and mind. A few months ago, I was listening to NPR which featured an interview with Mike Pitts, British archaeologist and author of this book. Happily, our library bought some copies. This is a fascinating and (mostly) absorbing book. It demonstrates the power of an individual, in this case, Phillipa Langley, a screenwriter and "presenter" who fell ill and took a book with her on vacation - one that most of us would not pick up. It was a book written in the 50's that said that history had it all wrong: Richard III was actually a good guy. By sheer force of will and her ability to connect with people, she literally gets the ball rolling. Who knew that there are Ricardian societies all over the world who love Richard III and defend his honor? Ms. Langley was able to get them excited enough to help with the project financially. The rest of the story in in this book. What got me interested was learning that they had found his skeleton under a car park in Leceistershire. If history and/or archaeology interest you, then get this book. It's a blast.
get-back-to-these
February 23, 20182/22/18 - I've had this in my OverDrive Wish List for a while, and was sad to see that my library says that its license has expired, so it no longer has the rights to the ebook. Dunno if I want to buy it or look for a print copy.
June 19, 2018
A really good book detailing the many steps it took to dig up the car park that housed Richard III's body. I loved reading about the philosophically different approaches between Langley and the archeologists, the hoops that had to be jumped through at each process, the initial (quiet) shock when the scientists realized what they might have found, and the forensics involved in confirming who it was. What I found most fascinating was how the injuries to the skull really created a narrative of precisely how Richard III died. We so often can't know these final moments, but they were able to create with remarkable specificity what probably happened.
Less that 200 pages, this is a nice short read for any Ricardian or Tudor history buff.
Less that 200 pages, this is a nice short read for any Ricardian or Tudor history buff.
November 24, 2018
I saw the documentary "Digging for Richard III" but this gives so much more background information. Lots of more background information. Also gives the reader an idea what is actually involved today to actually arrange and perform an archaeological dig.
The book is broke up into a Prologue and 5 Acts:
The Prologue is basically a summary of the book.
Act I: England, 1452-85 - A very brief overview of the War of the Roses with the family tree of Richard III, Lancaster verses York, with the connections with the Tudors. Richard was the youngest son of Richard, Duke of York's 12 children and the great, great grandson of Edward III through Edward of Langley, the fifth son. The author included a family tree with Edward III's 13 children. Henry Tudor who became Henry VII was the son of Margaret Beaufort, great, granddaughter of John of Gaunt, the fourth son. That's a mere fraction of the interconnections.
Act II: Looking for Richard III - Rumors and the affection of the people of Leicester for Richard as well as an introduction and brief history of the major people involved in the eventual dig. Talking to the University of Leicester archaeologists. The research done beforehand, especially the site since time would be limited as was the funds.
Act III: Excavation in 2012 - They had three weeks and every aspect was being filmed for prosperity. First trench and they found bone. Human bone. The appropriate paperwork for excavating human remains had to be submitted and approved so the second and eventually a third trench was dug. And they were successful finding walls for the Greyfriars chapter house, cloister and four other graves.
While more exploration was being done in trench three - the choir area - the first grave was being excavated. And it was a male with a curved spine.
Act IV: An Autopsy - The bones from trench one was taken off-site to the university. Many of the smaller bones had disintegrated over the centuries. But the ones they had underwent a full CT scan. Teeth were removed as well as samples from various locations on the bones for DNA testing. Multiple injuries to the bones showed that he had likely been attacked and killed from behind. That this man's body was brought back from the battlefield of Bosworth when most of the dead were left where they fell, meant he was important.
As for proving whether he was the lost king, researchers managed to trace current descendants
of his sister, Anne, which would mean Richard and Anne shared mitrochondrial DNA from their mother. In time, they found additional relatives that were willing to anonymously contribute samples.
Act V: An Inquest - The decision - it was King Richard III. He had suffered from severe idiopathic adolescent-onset scoliosis (curved strongly sideways from unknown causes that developed in what was likely his early teens). He was a slight man who would have been of average height without the curve. He ate plenty of seafood. He was infected with roundworms near the end of his life. A digital artist as well as a reconstruction artist worked with a duplicate of the skull and the results were astonishing close to portraits of Richard III.
Epilogue and a Burial - It was a profound set of circumstances that enabled Skeleton 1 to survive undisturbed over the centuries. Buildings being built and replaced. Basements excavated. Service lines being dug for. Preparations were still in progress for Richard's reburial - perhaps in Leicester, perhaps elsewhere - information is being discovered regarding his life and death. Knowledge regarding medieval friars and how the Dissolution impacted a community - namely the city of Leicester.
As for the reputation of his being evil, crippled in body and spirit, is likely due to the fact that the victors write the history. If historians want to survive in a time period where kings have absolute power of life and death, they don't declare their king a usurper.
Personally, as I look over my review, I have basically given a summary of the entire thing. I don't believe this is a case of revealing spoilers since the preface basically reveals what happened.
As for the book itself - it provides excellent insight from a variety of directions. Richard III. War of the Roses. Early Tudor kings. The process to conduct archaeological digs.
The book is broke up into a Prologue and 5 Acts:
The Prologue is basically a summary of the book.
Act I: England, 1452-85 - A very brief overview of the War of the Roses with the family tree of Richard III, Lancaster verses York, with the connections with the Tudors. Richard was the youngest son of Richard, Duke of York's 12 children and the great, great grandson of Edward III through Edward of Langley, the fifth son. The author included a family tree with Edward III's 13 children. Henry Tudor who became Henry VII was the son of Margaret Beaufort, great, granddaughter of John of Gaunt, the fourth son. That's a mere fraction of the interconnections.
Act II: Looking for Richard III - Rumors and the affection of the people of Leicester for Richard as well as an introduction and brief history of the major people involved in the eventual dig. Talking to the University of Leicester archaeologists. The research done beforehand, especially the site since time would be limited as was the funds.
Act III: Excavation in 2012 - They had three weeks and every aspect was being filmed for prosperity. First trench and they found bone. Human bone. The appropriate paperwork for excavating human remains had to be submitted and approved so the second and eventually a third trench was dug. And they were successful finding walls for the Greyfriars chapter house, cloister and four other graves.
While more exploration was being done in trench three - the choir area - the first grave was being excavated. And it was a male with a curved spine.
Act IV: An Autopsy - The bones from trench one was taken off-site to the university. Many of the smaller bones had disintegrated over the centuries. But the ones they had underwent a full CT scan. Teeth were removed as well as samples from various locations on the bones for DNA testing. Multiple injuries to the bones showed that he had likely been attacked and killed from behind. That this man's body was brought back from the battlefield of Bosworth when most of the dead were left where they fell, meant he was important.
As for proving whether he was the lost king, researchers managed to trace current descendants
of his sister, Anne, which would mean Richard and Anne shared mitrochondrial DNA from their mother. In time, they found additional relatives that were willing to anonymously contribute samples.
Act V: An Inquest - The decision - it was King Richard III. He had suffered from severe idiopathic adolescent-onset scoliosis (curved strongly sideways from unknown causes that developed in what was likely his early teens). He was a slight man who would have been of average height without the curve. He ate plenty of seafood. He was infected with roundworms near the end of his life. A digital artist as well as a reconstruction artist worked with a duplicate of the skull and the results were astonishing close to portraits of Richard III.
Epilogue and a Burial - It was a profound set of circumstances that enabled Skeleton 1 to survive undisturbed over the centuries. Buildings being built and replaced. Basements excavated. Service lines being dug for. Preparations were still in progress for Richard's reburial - perhaps in Leicester, perhaps elsewhere - information is being discovered regarding his life and death. Knowledge regarding medieval friars and how the Dissolution impacted a community - namely the city of Leicester.
As for the reputation of his being evil, crippled in body and spirit, is likely due to the fact that the victors write the history. If historians want to survive in a time period where kings have absolute power of life and death, they don't declare their king a usurper.
Personally, as I look over my review, I have basically given a summary of the entire thing. I don't believe this is a case of revealing spoilers since the preface basically reveals what happened.
As for the book itself - it provides excellent insight from a variety of directions. Richard III. War of the Roses. Early Tudor kings. The process to conduct archaeological digs.
June 21, 2014
There is a lot to be said for a writer with an academic background who can make history and academic sciences appealling and accessible to the general reading public. Mike Pitts in 'Digging for Richard III' has achieved this with panache.
With an historical context for every step of the journey, we can follow Richard through birth to death, through popular culture, and even modern prejudices. No stone is left unturned, and it is refreshing to see a book focus on the archaeology itself within a broader historical context.
Mike Pitts writes in a way which is wholly accessible. He has an ease of style which makes this book a joy to read. He doesn't inundate the book with unnecessary facts, a criticism I know has been levelled at this work. I felt however that he included everything necessary without making this book a boring academic treatise, as so many archaeological texts are wont to be.
If you're looking for something purely evidence based full of facts, figures, dates and name dropping, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for a narrative reconstruction of one of the most fascinating archaeological finds in recent history, and indeed the process of archaeology itself, then this is a must read!
http://iblamewizards.com/review-diggi...
With an historical context for every step of the journey, we can follow Richard through birth to death, through popular culture, and even modern prejudices. No stone is left unturned, and it is refreshing to see a book focus on the archaeology itself within a broader historical context.
Mike Pitts writes in a way which is wholly accessible. He has an ease of style which makes this book a joy to read. He doesn't inundate the book with unnecessary facts, a criticism I know has been levelled at this work. I felt however that he included everything necessary without making this book a boring academic treatise, as so many archaeological texts are wont to be.
If you're looking for something purely evidence based full of facts, figures, dates and name dropping, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for a narrative reconstruction of one of the most fascinating archaeological finds in recent history, and indeed the process of archaeology itself, then this is a must read!
http://iblamewizards.com/review-diggi...
April 12, 2015
This is a totally fascinating and compelling book and is as exciting as an adventure story. It tells how Philippa Langley became interested in Richard III and determined to find his grave having had a feeling she knew exactly where it was. The task was taken on by an archaeological unit in Leicester which undertakes digs for the construction industry and local authorities when new building work is taking place to ensure than historical evidence is not overlooked and destroyed.
Their investigation had two aims - to find the site of the long demolished Grey Friars in the centre of Leicester and also to try and find Richard III's grave. Richard Buckley, the head of the archaeological unit thought finding Richard III's grave was a totally outside chance but he did believe they would find Grey Friars as all the records pointed to the area where they were going to dig.
The book is well written with plenty of notes at the end of the book and a bibliography for those who want to read more about Richard III and the investigation. I was completely absorbed in this book to the extent that I read for about three hours yesterday afternoon without moving. It is that sort of book. If you've every watched Time Team or similar archaeological programmes you will love this.
Their investigation had two aims - to find the site of the long demolished Grey Friars in the centre of Leicester and also to try and find Richard III's grave. Richard Buckley, the head of the archaeological unit thought finding Richard III's grave was a totally outside chance but he did believe they would find Grey Friars as all the records pointed to the area where they were going to dig.
The book is well written with plenty of notes at the end of the book and a bibliography for those who want to read more about Richard III and the investigation. I was completely absorbed in this book to the extent that I read for about three hours yesterday afternoon without moving. It is that sort of book. If you've every watched Time Team or similar archaeological programmes you will love this.
August 7, 2016
A brief but easy to read discussion of the discovery of Richard III's skeleton in Leicester. Pitts covers all sides of the story, from those who fought to have the excavation happen to the archaeologists who thought their clients were a bit nuts and who were wholly unconvinced that they'd never find him to the scientists who performed the DNA tests that established the skeleton's identity.
It's definitely interesting, although large parts of it are anecdotal and based on discussions with the various key players rather than on actual scientific evidence. This is probably perfectly fine for most readers, but (and this is going to make me sound like a pretentious arsehole) I have an archaeology degree so there were numerous moments that made me go "EVIDENCE PLEASE". Probably if I'd read it in conjunction with the articles published in peer reviewed journals to date, it would have been a much more fascinating reading experience. But that's probably just me.
In short, enjoyable but a little light on at times.
It's definitely interesting, although large parts of it are anecdotal and based on discussions with the various key players rather than on actual scientific evidence. This is probably perfectly fine for most readers, but (and this is going to make me sound like a pretentious arsehole) I have an archaeology degree so there were numerous moments that made me go "EVIDENCE PLEASE". Probably if I'd read it in conjunction with the articles published in peer reviewed journals to date, it would have been a much more fascinating reading experience. But that's probably just me.
In short, enjoyable but a little light on at times.
May 3, 2015
(I won a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.)
Digging for Richard III is a fascinating look at the process of finding Richard III's body, and the subsequent process of determining that the body was, in fact, his.
It starts at the very beginning, when the dig was first commissioned - when no one believed that he was even buried there, much less that they would actually find him - and follows each step, up until the final press conference.
It was interesting to read about the archaeological side of the discovery, as well as the scientific side, not to mention the historical aspects involved. While not an in-depth biography of Richard III, of course, the author still manages to include some background information about him.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and while it was a bit slow at times, it still held my interest. I would recommend this to those interested in this discovery, especially if they are fascinated with archaeology.
Digging for Richard III is a fascinating look at the process of finding Richard III's body, and the subsequent process of determining that the body was, in fact, his.
It starts at the very beginning, when the dig was first commissioned - when no one believed that he was even buried there, much less that they would actually find him - and follows each step, up until the final press conference.
It was interesting to read about the archaeological side of the discovery, as well as the scientific side, not to mention the historical aspects involved. While not an in-depth biography of Richard III, of course, the author still manages to include some background information about him.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and while it was a bit slow at times, it still held my interest. I would recommend this to those interested in this discovery, especially if they are fascinated with archaeology.
November 11, 2017
I think this book could have been better. I'm not sure if it was the tone or perhaps the general manner in which it was written, but I felt bored reading this book that I should have devoured in a day. I became fascinated by Richard III when I read The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey in junior high school. Having read news accounts of the quest for his bones, I was excited to read all about it. But I was bored. On some reflection, I wonder if this book was written for an English audience and so referred to English personalities and television shows that I am ignorant of and so caused my eyes to glaze over. No matter, the coverage in the NY Times was good. I just thought a book with more information would be better.
February 12, 2018
http://www.hyperebaaktiivne.ee/2018/0...
Lugesin eelmisel aastal R. L. Stevensoni seiklusromaani "Must nool", kus ühe tegelasena figureeris ka Richard III, kes mind väga huvitama hakkas. Lubasin sel aastal käsile võtta ülevaate kuninga luude avastamisest ning otsustasin raamatut lugeda juba nüüd kohe aasta alguses. See kannab pealkirja "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III", autoriks Mike Pitts. Lisaks loen täidetuks väljakutse punkti - 15. Raamat mõne valitseja (kuninga, kuninganna, presidendi, tsaari, keisri, füüreri jne.) kohta.
2011-2015, Leicester. Philippa Langley sattus vaimustusse Richard III-st ning külastades kohti, kus kuningas tegutses, jõudis ta muidugi Leicesteri. Ühes parklas ütles naise sisetunne ütleb, et just seal asfaldi alla on mehe haud. Langley kontakteerus ülikooliga ja sai teada, et arheoloogid ei tegele luude otsimisega. Siiski suudetakse kokku leppida plaanis otsida frantsisklaste kloostri varemed, tuvastada hoonete orientatsioon ja paiknemine, tuletada kiriku ja koori asukoht, ja kui hästi läheb, siis leida Richard III säilmed. Kaevamise algusest kulus koos lõunapausiga kuninga luustiku leidmiseks 6 tundi ja 34 minutit. Esmalt paistsid mullast küll vaid sääreluude otsad. Veidi hiljem avastati kõver selgroog ning seejärel tehti palju erinevaid katseid, et tõestada skeleti omanik. Selgus, et tegu ongi otsitud kuningaga! Järgnes vaidlus selle üle, kuhu matta säilmed.
"Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" tundus mulle juba teema poolest põnev ning ma ei pidanud pettuma. Mulle väga meeldis autori stiil ning kogu protsess alates Philippa esimesest tutvusest Richard III-ga kuni säilmete taassängistamiseni oli kirja pandud väga kaasahaaravalt. Ainult esimene peatükk, mis rääkis kuningast endast, oli veidi kuiv. Lugu ise tundus muidugi uskumatu. Mõned detailid tundusid liialdatud, nagu Philippa sisetunne, et kuningas puhkab parkla all. Kõige ulmelisem oli muidugi see, et luud leiti kohe esimesest kohast, kuhu kopp maasse löödi.
Vaieldamatult põnevaim osa oli, kuidas tehti kindlaks, et leitud kõverdunud selgrooga luustik tõesti otsitud kuningale kuulus. Mulle meeldis, et detailid olid täpselt parajalt lahti seletatud ning arheoloogia protsess sai selgemaks. Hämmastav, kui palju infot 500 aasta vanune luustik endas peidab. Näiteks saab luude koostise järgi hinnata omaniku toidulauda. Palju kõnelevad ka vigastused ning nende võrdlus teiste sama ajastu luustikega. Lisaks rekonstrueeriti kolba järgi nägu, mis meenutas väga Richard III maale. Samas on väidetud, et kuningas ise oma maale ei meenutanud. Viimaks sai määravaks muidugi DNA analüüs. Eelmisel semestril õppisime, et vanadelt proovidelt on parimaks võimaluseks saada mtDNA-d ehk siis mitokondriaalset DNA-d. Seda tehnikat kasutati näiteks ka Romanovide tuvastamisel. Raamatu abil sain seega õpitud teadmisi üle korrata ja kinnistada.
Lugu ei lõppenudki sellega, et luud üles leiti ning nende omanik kindlaks tehti. Pärast seda läks lahti uus sõda, et selgitada välja, kuhu kuningas ümber tuleks matta. Mitmed osapooled tundsid, et neil on õigus see otsus teha. Näiteks ilmus välja inimesi, kes väitsid, et on kuninga sugulased. See osa raamatust üllatas mind eriti. Mõttetute vaidluste lõpuks jäi kehtima muidugi algne plaan ja Richard III puhkab Leicesteris edasi. Muidugi tekkis nüüd soov minna ise kogu seda sündmuspaika vaatama.
Veel üks uus huvitav teadmine, mida raamat pakkus, oli see, et arheoloogidele ei meeldi tegelikult inimsäilmetega tegelda, sest esiteks on nende väljakaevamiseks vaja taodelda luba, mis suurendab kulutusi ja nõuab lisaaega. Teiseks on emotsionaalne pool, sest luudega tegelemine paneb tahes-tahtmata surmale mõtlema.
Mulle meeldis "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" väga, sest mind huvitas teaduslik taust ning uuringud, mida luudega tehti. Luude leidmise lugu oli kirja pandud kaasahaaravas stiilis. Minul oli igatahes põnev lugeda ning uusi teadmisi sain ka kuhjaga. Kogu lugu oli väga uskumatu. Soovitan väga lugeda, kui arheoloogia huvi pakub!
Lugesin eelmisel aastal R. L. Stevensoni seiklusromaani "Must nool", kus ühe tegelasena figureeris ka Richard III, kes mind väga huvitama hakkas. Lubasin sel aastal käsile võtta ülevaate kuninga luude avastamisest ning otsustasin raamatut lugeda juba nüüd kohe aasta alguses. See kannab pealkirja "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III", autoriks Mike Pitts. Lisaks loen täidetuks väljakutse punkti - 15. Raamat mõne valitseja (kuninga, kuninganna, presidendi, tsaari, keisri, füüreri jne.) kohta.
2011-2015, Leicester. Philippa Langley sattus vaimustusse Richard III-st ning külastades kohti, kus kuningas tegutses, jõudis ta muidugi Leicesteri. Ühes parklas ütles naise sisetunne ütleb, et just seal asfaldi alla on mehe haud. Langley kontakteerus ülikooliga ja sai teada, et arheoloogid ei tegele luude otsimisega. Siiski suudetakse kokku leppida plaanis otsida frantsisklaste kloostri varemed, tuvastada hoonete orientatsioon ja paiknemine, tuletada kiriku ja koori asukoht, ja kui hästi läheb, siis leida Richard III säilmed. Kaevamise algusest kulus koos lõunapausiga kuninga luustiku leidmiseks 6 tundi ja 34 minutit. Esmalt paistsid mullast küll vaid sääreluude otsad. Veidi hiljem avastati kõver selgroog ning seejärel tehti palju erinevaid katseid, et tõestada skeleti omanik. Selgus, et tegu ongi otsitud kuningaga! Järgnes vaidlus selle üle, kuhu matta säilmed.
"Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" tundus mulle juba teema poolest põnev ning ma ei pidanud pettuma. Mulle väga meeldis autori stiil ning kogu protsess alates Philippa esimesest tutvusest Richard III-ga kuni säilmete taassängistamiseni oli kirja pandud väga kaasahaaravalt. Ainult esimene peatükk, mis rääkis kuningast endast, oli veidi kuiv. Lugu ise tundus muidugi uskumatu. Mõned detailid tundusid liialdatud, nagu Philippa sisetunne, et kuningas puhkab parkla all. Kõige ulmelisem oli muidugi see, et luud leiti kohe esimesest kohast, kuhu kopp maasse löödi.
Vaieldamatult põnevaim osa oli, kuidas tehti kindlaks, et leitud kõverdunud selgrooga luustik tõesti otsitud kuningale kuulus. Mulle meeldis, et detailid olid täpselt parajalt lahti seletatud ning arheoloogia protsess sai selgemaks. Hämmastav, kui palju infot 500 aasta vanune luustik endas peidab. Näiteks saab luude koostise järgi hinnata omaniku toidulauda. Palju kõnelevad ka vigastused ning nende võrdlus teiste sama ajastu luustikega. Lisaks rekonstrueeriti kolba järgi nägu, mis meenutas väga Richard III maale. Samas on väidetud, et kuningas ise oma maale ei meenutanud. Viimaks sai määravaks muidugi DNA analüüs. Eelmisel semestril õppisime, et vanadelt proovidelt on parimaks võimaluseks saada mtDNA-d ehk siis mitokondriaalset DNA-d. Seda tehnikat kasutati näiteks ka Romanovide tuvastamisel. Raamatu abil sain seega õpitud teadmisi üle korrata ja kinnistada.
Lugu ei lõppenudki sellega, et luud üles leiti ning nende omanik kindlaks tehti. Pärast seda läks lahti uus sõda, et selgitada välja, kuhu kuningas ümber tuleks matta. Mitmed osapooled tundsid, et neil on õigus see otsus teha. Näiteks ilmus välja inimesi, kes väitsid, et on kuninga sugulased. See osa raamatust üllatas mind eriti. Mõttetute vaidluste lõpuks jäi kehtima muidugi algne plaan ja Richard III puhkab Leicesteris edasi. Muidugi tekkis nüüd soov minna ise kogu seda sündmuspaika vaatama.
Veel üks uus huvitav teadmine, mida raamat pakkus, oli see, et arheoloogidele ei meeldi tegelikult inimsäilmetega tegelda, sest esiteks on nende väljakaevamiseks vaja taodelda luba, mis suurendab kulutusi ja nõuab lisaaega. Teiseks on emotsionaalne pool, sest luudega tegelemine paneb tahes-tahtmata surmale mõtlema.
Mulle meeldis "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" väga, sest mind huvitas teaduslik taust ning uuringud, mida luudega tehti. Luude leidmise lugu oli kirja pandud kaasahaaravas stiilis. Minul oli igatahes põnev lugeda ning uusi teadmisi sain ka kuhjaga. Kogu lugu oli väga uskumatu. Soovitan väga lugeda, kui arheoloogia huvi pakub!
July 29, 2019
Minu arvamuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...
February 1, 2018
Very enjoyable and readable book. Makes the process exciting and adventurous not the least being that the academics played down the possibility of finding the king. It was a longer than long shot they said. Besides, they make a policy of not searching for "a named individual" Not to mention the need for funding - something we can all relate to.
October 23, 2014
I am FASCINATED with this discovery, but the writing is not great at times. It seems like the author had issues paraphrasing. Check it out, "tales of the fevered despoliation of Richard's tomb had unleashed a material counterpart to the royal bed for gossip and commerce- a royal coffin. Some 50 years in the ground before retrieval and a further 75 before first noted, the coffin could not be wood, and a stone one was duly found and proudly displayed at another inn."
Huh? Who supplied the coffin? Who retrieved it? What does "first noted" mean? The coffin was displayed an an inn? With the body in it?
Huh? Who supplied the coffin? Who retrieved it? What does "first noted" mean? The coffin was displayed an an inn? With the body in it?
May 9, 2015
This is a fascinating account of the unlikely pairing of archeologists and Richard III fans working together to search for the long-lost body of Richard III, killed in 1485 in the Battle of Bosworth Field. Almost nobody really expected the project to succeed, and even though we know the ending, the author manages to convey a sense of suspense throughout.
October 21, 2015
3.5 stars...I enjoyed the chapters about Richard III's actual life and the information about the genetic research done once the 2012 dig was concluded and the remains were being processed. However, I didn't enjoy the middle chapters about the process leading up to the actual dig and cursory profiles of the participants. Definitely inspired me to read an actual biography of Richard III.
February 11, 2015
You don't have to be a Ricardian to appreciate the search for the king's remains. A very good read about England's most controversial monarch and the modern efforts to find his grave and give him a proper funeral.
January 20, 2015
Archeology and history combined - not bad. I was turned off by the small print but liked the history behind the dig for Richard III.
September 24, 2023
Several years ago when I was in England, I visited Leicester and in the cathedral, saw the gravesite monument where Richard the third is buried. I have for years, been fascinated with Richard the third, and hoped beyond hope that somehow he spirited his nephews away rather than murdering the princes in the tower. What happened we she’ll probably never know but I have read many fictional and historical fictional accounts of Richard the third of his wife, anaphoric and his short life dying at age 33 on the field of Bosworth. He was the last Plantagenet, king and Henry Tudor, who won the battle, and the crown became the first Tudor king.
This is the the details of how the archeologists, Richard III Society, University of Leicester, a writer, journalists, historians and the media gradually came together with different projects and aims, but worked collaboratively to pull together a project that unbelievably actually discovered the grave and skeleton of Richard III under a parking lot in Leicester England in 2012. It makes for fascinating reading with extensive notes and á comprehensive index. The author is one of those archeologists who made it happen and then provides us with the insiders view of the process.
This is the the details of how the archeologists, Richard III Society, University of Leicester, a writer, journalists, historians and the media gradually came together with different projects and aims, but worked collaboratively to pull together a project that unbelievably actually discovered the grave and skeleton of Richard III under a parking lot in Leicester England in 2012. It makes for fascinating reading with extensive notes and á comprehensive index. The author is one of those archeologists who made it happen and then provides us with the insiders view of the process.
March 19, 2024
A great insight into the complex planning required for any archaeological project. You don’t just turn up and start digging, apparently. The logistics are mind blowing- painstaking analysis of primary sources, to decide what to look for and where. Finding the funding. Obtaining the necessary permissions. Closing the roads, even.
The easy bit actually was the excavation of the skeleton. Then, an entire scientific community worked on establishing its authenticity. A fascinating, inspiring story.
What wasn’t so inspiring was the saga of inevitable squabbling between the competing factions- archaeologists, historians, those claiming genetic links, competitors for burial rights. A great read and a salutary warning for any planning a career in archaeology.
The easy bit actually was the excavation of the skeleton. Then, an entire scientific community worked on establishing its authenticity. A fascinating, inspiring story.
What wasn’t so inspiring was the saga of inevitable squabbling between the competing factions- archaeologists, historians, those claiming genetic links, competitors for burial rights. A great read and a salutary warning for any planning a career in archaeology.
January 12, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
I could just say that this is the story of an archaeological dig, and while that would be correct, it wouldn’t really cover the book or the impact of the story behind it. I could also say that this is the story of one person following their dream and making it happen, no matter how many times people tell her it is impossible.
What this is definitely NOT is a story about the King Richard who is the dastardly villain of Shakespeare’s play Richard III. The play has played its part in keeping the story of Richard alive, it is not history, but is almost entirely fictional-while this slim volume tells a true story about a woman and an organization that did not believe the conjectured tales, and a group of archaeologists who discovered the find of a lifetime.
Even though this is not about the Shakespeare play, or even the Shakespearean version of the villain, the author used the device of presenting the story in “Acts,” very much like a play.
The prologue is where the author sets the stage, in this case providing a brief but informative chapter about the historical Richard III. Not the conjecture, but what is actually known, and why there isn’t all that much. For a fascinating but fictional representation of the case, read Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time. Tey was a Ricardian almost before the term existed, believing (and convincingly presenting) the case that Richard was not the villain Shakespeare and subsequent Tudor biographers made him.
The Ricardian perspective is important, because the Richard III Society (Ricardians all) provided half of the funding for the dig that found his bones. They believed that the skeleton would lay to rest some of the myths. Whether it did or did not, history will be the judge.
But Digging for Richard III isn’t so much about the king as it is about the effort to find his missing body, with some interesting side-notes about the difference between legends and verifiable facts. So this is a real treasure hunt with a fascinating hunt through time and car parks.
There are three parts to the story - the belief by Philippa Langley that the body must still be under Leicester somewhere, along with her search for an organization that could conduct the dig. Following that, there is the archaeological study itself, including the historical search to narrow the location of where the grave might be, the debunking of the myths that claimed there was no longer a grave to find, and the actual dig itself. Last, but certainly not least in terms of time or expense, the methods used to determine whether the bones that they found in the car park belonged to the man they were hunting for.
For anyone with even a passing interest in urban archaeology, British history in general or Richard III in particular, or just in historical treasure hunts, this book is an absolute delight.
Reality Rating A: Count me among the delighted. I originally read The Daughter of Time in my teens, and was converted to the Ricardian perspective then. It makes more sense than the later Tudor narratives, especially including the one that claimed that Richard was so evil that his mother was pregnant with him for 2 whole years. In the 1500s, they might not have known precisely how babies were conceived at the molecular level, but there was plenty of experiential evidence that pregnancy only lasts 9 months, give or take. I'm certain that the idea of a 2 year pregnancy probably scares a lot of mothers half to death, but any history that repeated that particular bit of demagoguery is questionable at best.
What is fascinating was how pervasive the myths were, and how many of them had accreted over time out of absolutely nothing except a desire to “pile on”. The events that occurred before Richard’s hasty burial were all meticulously recorded, but the fate of his coffin was lost to the mists of time, and then assumed to have been dug up and discarded during the Victorian era building spree in Leicester, if not before.
So there is a lot of myth debunking, as the archaeologists have to first search for whether the burial might exist, and then where the building it was purported to have occurred in might be under 21st century Leicester. Those same archaeologists never expected to find the body, because archaeology doesn’t work like that. They were just hoping to find the lost church the body was supposed to be in.
They found the body on the first day, and had no idea that they had found it. The amount of red tape involved when a dig finds human remains delayed the exhumation, and when it finally happened, everyone was focused somewhere else.
The story of how the determination was made that the bones in the car park really did belong to the (very) late king have all the drama of an episode of Bones or CSI. Every tool of forensic archaeology and crime scene forensics was brought into play to determine who the bones belonged to when they were alive..
There was a court case that fought over who owned the bones now that they’ve been exhumed. It wasn’t quite as big a war as the one Richard died in, but it was close.
Now all someone needs to do is figure out what really happened to the Princes in the Tower, and the complete historical mystery will finally be solved.
I could just say that this is the story of an archaeological dig, and while that would be correct, it wouldn’t really cover the book or the impact of the story behind it. I could also say that this is the story of one person following their dream and making it happen, no matter how many times people tell her it is impossible.
What this is definitely NOT is a story about the King Richard who is the dastardly villain of Shakespeare’s play Richard III. The play has played its part in keeping the story of Richard alive, it is not history, but is almost entirely fictional-while this slim volume tells a true story about a woman and an organization that did not believe the conjectured tales, and a group of archaeologists who discovered the find of a lifetime.
Even though this is not about the Shakespeare play, or even the Shakespearean version of the villain, the author used the device of presenting the story in “Acts,” very much like a play.
The prologue is where the author sets the stage, in this case providing a brief but informative chapter about the historical Richard III. Not the conjecture, but what is actually known, and why there isn’t all that much. For a fascinating but fictional representation of the case, read Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time. Tey was a Ricardian almost before the term existed, believing (and convincingly presenting) the case that Richard was not the villain Shakespeare and subsequent Tudor biographers made him.
The Ricardian perspective is important, because the Richard III Society (Ricardians all) provided half of the funding for the dig that found his bones. They believed that the skeleton would lay to rest some of the myths. Whether it did or did not, history will be the judge.
But Digging for Richard III isn’t so much about the king as it is about the effort to find his missing body, with some interesting side-notes about the difference between legends and verifiable facts. So this is a real treasure hunt with a fascinating hunt through time and car parks.
There are three parts to the story - the belief by Philippa Langley that the body must still be under Leicester somewhere, along with her search for an organization that could conduct the dig. Following that, there is the archaeological study itself, including the historical search to narrow the location of where the grave might be, the debunking of the myths that claimed there was no longer a grave to find, and the actual dig itself. Last, but certainly not least in terms of time or expense, the methods used to determine whether the bones that they found in the car park belonged to the man they were hunting for.
For anyone with even a passing interest in urban archaeology, British history in general or Richard III in particular, or just in historical treasure hunts, this book is an absolute delight.
Reality Rating A: Count me among the delighted. I originally read The Daughter of Time in my teens, and was converted to the Ricardian perspective then. It makes more sense than the later Tudor narratives, especially including the one that claimed that Richard was so evil that his mother was pregnant with him for 2 whole years. In the 1500s, they might not have known precisely how babies were conceived at the molecular level, but there was plenty of experiential evidence that pregnancy only lasts 9 months, give or take. I'm certain that the idea of a 2 year pregnancy probably scares a lot of mothers half to death, but any history that repeated that particular bit of demagoguery is questionable at best.
What is fascinating was how pervasive the myths were, and how many of them had accreted over time out of absolutely nothing except a desire to “pile on”. The events that occurred before Richard’s hasty burial were all meticulously recorded, but the fate of his coffin was lost to the mists of time, and then assumed to have been dug up and discarded during the Victorian era building spree in Leicester, if not before.
So there is a lot of myth debunking, as the archaeologists have to first search for whether the burial might exist, and then where the building it was purported to have occurred in might be under 21st century Leicester. Those same archaeologists never expected to find the body, because archaeology doesn’t work like that. They were just hoping to find the lost church the body was supposed to be in.
They found the body on the first day, and had no idea that they had found it. The amount of red tape involved when a dig finds human remains delayed the exhumation, and when it finally happened, everyone was focused somewhere else.
The story of how the determination was made that the bones in the car park really did belong to the (very) late king have all the drama of an episode of Bones or CSI. Every tool of forensic archaeology and crime scene forensics was brought into play to determine who the bones belonged to when they were alive..
There was a court case that fought over who owned the bones now that they’ve been exhumed. It wasn’t quite as big a war as the one Richard died in, but it was close.
Now all someone needs to do is figure out what really happened to the Princes in the Tower, and the complete historical mystery will finally be solved.
February 12, 2023
Overall well written and very accessible to the lay person. The explanations were concise and without a lot of jargon. Pitts set the scene both physically ie the car park and philosophically ie what the expectations were of the archaeological team very well and balanced them nicely against the "fan" expectations of the RichardIII Society without degrading either side. He also explained the post confirmation controversies very well without taking a side or appearing to have a bias on what should be done with the body.
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