DIGGING FOR RICHARD III

When an archaeological expedition found one of England’s most maligned kings in an urban parking lot, it was a worldwide sensation. Here’s the complete story.

British Archaeology editor Pitts begins with a quick summary of Richard III’s reign and his death at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He had been king only two years, a temporary victor in the Wars of the Roses. But after his defeat, Richard became one of history’s villains, notably in Shakespeare’s play bearing his name. However, not everyone bought the image of the evil Richard. In 2010, aspiring screenwriter Philippa Langley (whose The King’s Grave also examines the discovery of the site) called Richard Buckley of the University of Leicester archaeology department. She had a simple proposition: The Richard III Society wanted to help finance a search for the king’s body, believed to be buried in Leicester. Buckley didn’t think anyone could find the lost body, but he wanted to explore the area of the city where the body might be found. When the dig, which took place in a parking lot, turned up a skeleton the first day, it still seemed next to impossible that it could be Richard. Only upon closer examination did the team recognize the twisted spine that history had attributed to the king, as well as other important details. Pitts details the events leading up to the discovery and describes the scientific examination of the skeleton. Chemical analysis of the bones, study of the wounds the victim had sustained and reconstruction of the facial appearance of the victim—all supported the hypothesis that it was indeed Richard. DNA evidence clinched the case. The archaeological world was stunned. Pitts calls the find the most amazing since the excavation of King Tut’s tomb in 1924, and he effectively conveys the excitement of the discovery, clearly and vividly describing the process and the personalities.

Writing this book must have been the dream of a lifetime for Pitts, and he has risen to the occasion. Highly recommended.