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| Richard III's remains: Leicester car park dug up | Richard III's remains: Leicester car park dug up |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A bid to find the remains of England's King Richard III is starting more than 500 years after his death on a Leicestershire battlefield. | A bid to find the remains of England's King Richard III is starting more than 500 years after his death on a Leicestershire battlefield. |
| A University of Leicester archaeological team is digging in a Leicester car park where they think he may have been buried. | A University of Leicester archaeological team is digging in a Leicester car park where they think he may have been buried. |
| King Richard III was killed at Bosworth in 1485 and his body taken to a Franciscan Friary in the city. | King Richard III was killed at Bosworth in 1485 and his body taken to a Franciscan Friary in the city. |
| Over time, the exact location of the grave has been lost. | Over time, the exact location of the grave has been lost. |
| 'Long shot' | 'Long shot' |
| The project team said their work is "the first ever search for the lost grave of an anointed King of England". | The project team said their work is "the first ever search for the lost grave of an anointed King of England". |
| Richard III was crowned at Westminster Abbey in July 1483 and died in August 1485 fighting his enemies led by Henry Tudor. | Richard III was crowned at Westminster Abbey in July 1483 and died in August 1485 fighting his enemies led by Henry Tudor. |
| He was the last English king to be killed in battle and the last Plantagenet king. He was followed by the Tudor kings Henry VII and Henry VIII. | He was the last English king to be killed in battle and the last Plantagenet king. He was followed by the Tudor kings Henry VII and Henry VIII. |
| Richard Buckley, of the University of Leicester archaeology service, said: "The big question for us is determining the whereabouts of the church on the site and also where in the church the body was buried. | Richard Buckley, of the University of Leicester archaeology service, said: "The big question for us is determining the whereabouts of the church on the site and also where in the church the body was buried. |
| "Although in many ways finding the remains of the king is a long shot, it is a challenge we shall undertake enthusiastically." | "Although in many ways finding the remains of the king is a long shot, it is a challenge we shall undertake enthusiastically." |
| The team will use ground-penetrating radar to help find the best places to dig. | The team will use ground-penetrating radar to help find the best places to dig. |
| Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society, said: "Richard III is a charismatic figure who attracts tremendous interest. | Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society, said: "Richard III is a charismatic figure who attracts tremendous interest. |
| "Partly because he has been so much maligned in past centuries and partly because he occupies a pivotal place in English history. | "Partly because he has been so much maligned in past centuries and partly because he occupies a pivotal place in English history. |
| "The continuing interest in Richard means that many fables have grown up around his grave. | "The continuing interest in Richard means that many fables have grown up around his grave. |
| "Although local people like Alderman Herrick in 1612 knew precisely where he was buried - and Herrick was able to show visitors a handsome stone pillar marking the king's grave in his garden - nevertheless at the same time unlikely stories were spread of Richard's bones being dug up and thrown into the river Soar. | "Although local people like Alderman Herrick in 1612 knew precisely where he was buried - and Herrick was able to show visitors a handsome stone pillar marking the king's grave in his garden - nevertheless at the same time unlikely stories were spread of Richard's bones being dug up and thrown into the river Soar. |
| "Other fables, equally discredited, claimed that his coffin was used as a horse trough." | "Other fables, equally discredited, claimed that his coffin was used as a horse trough." |
| 'Exciting opportunity' | 'Exciting opportunity' |
| The Richard III Society works to defend the king's reputation, although many historians believe Richard was responsible for the murder of his young nephews, King Edward V and Prince Richard. | The Richard III Society works to defend the king's reputation, although many historians believe Richard was responsible for the murder of his young nephews, King Edward V and Prince Richard. |
| The "princes in the Tower", the sons of Richard's brother King Edward IV, disappeared while being kept in the Tower of London in 1483. | The "princes in the Tower", the sons of Richard's brother King Edward IV, disappeared while being kept in the Tower of London in 1483. |
| University of Leicester spokesman Richard Taylor said: "If remains are found that are suspected to be those of Richard III, they will be subject to DNA analysis at the University of Leicester where DNA fingerprinting was originally discovered." | University of Leicester spokesman Richard Taylor said: "If remains are found that are suspected to be those of Richard III, they will be subject to DNA analysis at the University of Leicester where DNA fingerprinting was originally discovered." |
| If the royal remains are found during the two-week excavation, they will be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral, a team spokesman said. | |
| Councillor Piara Singh Clair, of Leicester City Council, said: "Richard III is a key figure in the region's history. | Councillor Piara Singh Clair, of Leicester City Council, said: "Richard III is a key figure in the region's history. |
| "This is an exciting opportunity potentially to discover a missing piece of our historical jigsaw." | "This is an exciting opportunity potentially to discover a missing piece of our historical jigsaw." |