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History

Richard III reburied – History fans get a chance to vote on whether The King has really been found

Earlier this year, King Richard III was reburied with great fanfare at Leicester Cathedral. The reinterment took place after months of research and DNA analysis to determine whether the bones found under a car park in Leicester were those of the last Plantagenet monarch. But it seems that the debate is still on, as visitors to the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition will be given the chance to vote as to whether they think the late King’s remains have really been discovered.

The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is a week long scientific event, organised by London’s prestigious Royal Society to bring together the best of technological achievements in the UK. Among the 22 exhibits on display at the event will be a life size 3-D print out of King Richard’s skeleton, created by Loughborough University.

The team of researchers from the University of Leicester who were responsible for finding the bones of the Plantagenet monarch will be on hand at the exhibit to talk to visitors about the scientific evidence behind the discovery, and to encourage them to vote on whether they think the bones belong to Richard by reviewing the facts and either placing a red chip in the ‘No’ box or a white chip in the ‘Yes box. The event, which starts today, will run until Sunday, July 5.

“This project has been a really wonderful example of how the expertise from a number of different disciplines can be brought together to answer a specific question,” said Dr Turi King, a lecturer in Genetics and Archaeology at the University of Leicester who carried out the DNA analysis of King Richard’s bones. “It was scientific research hand-in-hand with archaeological, historical and genealogical investigation which brought this amazing project to fruition.

“We hope the exhibit will be a great and fun way for people to learn about the work that went into the identification of the remains and learn more about Richard III,” Dr King added.

After King Richard III’s death in 1485, his body was buried at Greyfriar’s Church in Leicester, where it remained until the priory’s dissolution half a century later.  Three years ago, his remains were discovered under a car park in Leicester, and after DNA analysis and state-of-the-art CT scans, researchers were able to confirm that the bones did in fact belong to the much maligned Yorkist ruler.

King Richard III was buried in Leicester Cathedral on the 26th of March, with members of the Royal Family, including the present Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Countess of Wessex, in attendance.

Featured photo credit: lisby1 via photopin cc

 

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