Richard III dig in Leicester car park 'is definitely on the right track'
Archaelogists searching for the remains of Richard III in a Leicester car park have said they “are definitely on the right track”.
The team, led by the University of Leicester, were briefing the world on their progress at a press conference today.
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The University of Leicester dig for King Richard III's remains via @uniofleicester on Twitter
Richard Buckley, co-director of the University of Leicester Archaeological Services, said: “We have always been clear that it was a long shot that we would find the King. So far things have gone as well as we could have hoped.
“The finds so far have shown us that we are definitely on the right track.”
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@uniofleicester tweeted live from the press conference where Mr Buckley spoke of the team’s excitement about the progress of the dig.
He said: “We have come right down onto some significant buildings, our suspicions are that we may have found the walls of the church.”
“This has been a bit of a journey, day three we started to see the walls coming though and this has been very exciting.”
“Thursday changed everything with all of the finds and I am now really excited about going forward.”
“The trench we will be digging tomorrow will help to clarify if the walls we have found are the walls of the Church are. The site of the new trench should be well preserved as it hasn't been over developed over the years.”
The team believe the king's bones could be underneath Greyfriars car park, in New Street, in the city centre. They have been granted permission by Leicester City Council, which owns the car park, to carry out a two-week dig on part of the site.
The dig started last Friday. The dig will continue until next Friday.
Comments
by Graham_LE8
Friday, August 31 2012, 6:24PM
“@ graydjames; Objectives: dig up car park, find remains of slain regent. Progress: 1 out of 2 so far (not bad) Just a product of the dryer side of my humour I'm afraid - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible...”
by graydjames
Friday, August 31 2012, 5:44PM
“That's a bit unfair Graham; and rather out of character judging by your comments generally, if I may say so.
Everyone knows it's a long shot but if they found anything significant it would mean a lot to historians. If they actually found bones likely to be from the 15th century, it would be special. If they found bones that could be identified as those of Richard III it would be spectacular and immense for the City. I think it's worth a try.
That is, of course, provided the whole thing doesn't turn into a spin, led by those misguided members of the Richard III Society, of "how wonderful Richard III was and how he has been done down by history". His reputation, aside from the notion that he was a hunchback, is largely accurate, however much some would like to paint a rosey picture.
But whatever he was, to find the location of his burial place, finally, would be a major coup.”
by Graham_LE8
Friday, August 31 2012, 12:31PM
“Quote: "The finds so far have shown us that we are definitely on the right track"...
Meaning = we haven't found any bones yet, but we are successfully digging up a car park...”