Exhumation of Richard III of England, Archaeological discovery in Leicester, England.
The skeletal remains of King Richard III were discovered beneath a parking lot in 2012 during excavations by the University of Leicester Archaeological Services. The bones were found in the buried ground of the former Greyfriars Franciscan friary, where they had been hidden for centuries.
King Richard III fell at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, and his body was brought to Greyfriars Priory for burial. After his death, the location of his grave became lost to time, and its exact position remained unknown for more than 500 years.
The discovery of these remains brought attention back to the Plantagenet dynasty and the medieval period in English history, leading to the creation of the King Richard III Visitor Centre. Visitors today can explore stories about the king and his era through the site.
The excavation site can be visited, where glass flooring shows the outline of the original grave within the friary grounds. Visitors should allow time to explore the site carefully and see the related museum facilities nearby.
Genetic testing using DNA from two direct descendants of Richard's sister Anne of York provided scientific confirmation of the skeletal remains. This DNA analysis offered conclusive proof that the bones truly belonged to this medieval king.
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