An academic paper on the archaeology¹ of the Search for Richard III reveals for the first time specific details of the grave dug for King Richard III and discovered under a car park in Leicester. University of Leicester archaeologists have published the first peer-reviewed paper on the University-led archaeological Search for Richard III in the journal Antiquity².

 

The paper reveals: Richard III was casually³ placed in a badly prepared grave -- suggesting gravediggers were in a hurry to bury him. He was placed in an 'odd position' and the torso（躯干） crammed⁴ in. The grave was 'too short' at the bottom to receive the body conventionally. Someone is likely to have stood in the grave to receive the body -- suggested by the fact the body is on one side rather than placed centrally. There is evidence to suggest Richard's hands may have been tied when he was buried 

 

The paper -- by a team from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, and Department of Genetics -- follows the public revelation in February by the University of Leicester that the University had discovered King Richard III.

 

It followed a three-week dig started in August 2012 at what was once the medieval Grey Friars church in Leicester -- now a Leicester City Council car park.

 

The paper reveals that the King's grave was too short for him and had an untidy "lozenge（菱形）" shape, with the bottom of the grave much smaller than it was at ground level.

 

The head was propped⁵ up against one corner of the grave, suggesting the gravediggers had made no attempt to rearrange the body once it had been lowered in.

 

There were also no signs of a shroud⁶（寿衣，覆盖物） or coffin⁷.

 

This is in stark⁸ contrast to the other medieval graves found in the town, which were the correct length and were dug neatly⁹ with vertical¹⁰ sides.

 

This may show that the gravediggers were in a hurry to put the body in the ground -- or had little respect for the deceased.

 

This is in keeping with accounts from the medieval historian Polydore Vergil, who said Richard III was buried "without any pomp or solemn funeral."

 

'The king in the car park': new light on the death and burial of Richard III in the Grey Friars church, Leicester, in 1485 is the first academic paper to be published on the University of Leicester's Search for Richard III.

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