VIDEO: The search for Richard III – Richard Buckley at CA Live! 2013

Richard Buckley takes CA conference attendees through the discovery of Richard III’s remains. Image: Aerial-Cam

In September 2012, archaeologists from the University of Leicester announced a significant development in their search for the remains of Richard III, England’s last Medieval monarch: the discovery of human remains thought to be those of the lost king, beneath a carpark in the city centre. Five months later, following an exhaustive battery of scientific tests, the team were able to confirm that these were indeed the bones of the ill-fated Plantaganet.

At our annual conference, Current ArchaeologyLive! 2013,  ULAS’ Richard Buckley, lead archaeologist on the Greyfriars Project, shared the full story of this astonishing piece of archaeological detective work with over 400 rapt attendees. For those who were unable to make it to the conference, however, Richard has kindly agreed to let us make his talk available on our website. Enjoy!

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Richard III replica head to go on show in York

Lifesize reconstruction made from detailed scans of skull found in Leicester car park will be Yorkshire Museum's centrepiece

Richard III (1452-1485) had close connections to York and Yorkshire, having spent much of his youth living at Middleham Castle. Photograph: Richard III Society

"King Richard, late mercifully reigning over us, was through great treason … piteously slain and murdered, to the great heaviness of this city," reported the mayor of York's serjeant of the mace a day after Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485.

More than 500 years later however, the last Yorkist king and a monarch with strong connections to York and Yorkshire, is returning to the city. Not Richard exactly, but a replica head made from detailed scans of Richard's scull, which was found in a Leicester car park last year.

The disconcertingly lifelike replica will take pride of place in a new display at the Yorkshire Museum looking at what is really known about the long-lost-then-found monarch. It is part of York's city wide programme of events marking the importance of Richard III to the city.

The head will be on show from 19 July until October.

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Carbon test hopes for 'Battle of Lewes casualty'

The skull has sword wounds and a large number of blows to the head

Tests are under way on a skeleton found in an East Sussex town to find out if it is a victim of the 1264 Battle of Lewes.

Lewes is gearing up for celebrations next year to mark the 750th anniversary of the battle between the armies of King Henry III and Simon de Montfort.

York University experts are testing bones thought to be those of a soldier.

Sussex Archaeological Society said the skeleton could take centre stage in next year's anniversary celebrations.

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Ancient bones under Lewes school may be warrior

Monks from Lewes Priory may have treated the medieval warrior

Mysterious bones found under a school could belong to a medieval warrior who died in battle.

Archaeologists believe the skeleton could belong to a soldier who fell during the Battle of Lewes in 1264.

Now the ancient remains have been sent to experts at the University of York who will attempt to solve the puzzle.

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Online Courses in Archaeology

University of Oxford Online Courses in Archaeology

Cave paintings, castles and pyramids, Neanderthals, Romans and Vikings - archaeology is about the excitement of discovery, finding out about our ancestors, exploring landscape through time, piecing together puzzles of the past from material remains.

These courses enable you to experience all this through online archaeological resources based on primary evidence from excavations and artefacts and from complex scientific processes and current thinking. Together with guided reading, discussion and activities you can experience how archaeologists work today to increase our knowledge of people and societies from the past.

The following courses are available:

• Archaeology in Practice


• Archaeology of the Bible Lands


• Exploring Roman Britain


• Greek Mythology


• Origins of Human Behaviour


• Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World


• Ritual and Religion in Prehistory


• Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers

7 more skeletons found near Old Town knight grave

A CITY car park has been hailed a “real treasure trove of archaeology” after seven more skeletons were unearthed from the grave of a medieval knight.

Archaeologists working on the site now believe they have uncovered the remains of a family crypt having found bones from three fully grown adults, four infants and a skull.

The exciting discovery comes one month after experts ­excavated the burial site of a medieval knight – affectionately christened Sir Eck – within the grounds of the new Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) at High School Yards, off Infirmary Street.

Carvings of the Calvary Cross on an elaborate sandstone tomb and an ornate sword found beside the remains led archaeologists to believe it was the burial plot of a high-status individual such as a knight or nobleman.

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More skeletons found near grave of medieval knight

A city car park has been hailed a “real treasure trove of archaeology” after seven more skeletons were unearthed from the grave of a medieval knight.

Two of the skeletons unearthed from the grave of a medieval knoght
discovered under a car park in Edinburgh [Credit: Scotsman]

Archaeologists working on the site now believe they have uncovered the remains of a family crypt having found bones from three fully grown adults, four infants and a skull.

The exciting discovery comes one month after experts ­excavated the burial site of a medieval knight – affectionately christened Sir Eck – within the grounds of the new Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) at High School Yards, off Infirmary Street.

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