Gransnet forums

Chat

Confirmed Richard 3rd remains found

(58 Posts)
glassortwo Mon 04-Feb-13 11:07:53

It has been confirmed that the remains found are beyond reasonable doubt Richard.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21063882

AlieOxon Mon 04-Feb-13 19:47:51

....anyone read 'The Daughter of Time'? I read it when I was in my teens and found it very sensible argument.

Oldgreymare Tue 05-Feb-13 00:21:00

Yes Alie I also read it when I was in my teens and it had a profound effect on me.
I'm going to try to see if I can get a copy to re-read and also hand on to my GD.

numberplease Tue 05-Feb-13 00:26:47

Every time I think of Richard 3rd, I can`t help remembering Peter Sellers.

trishs Tue 05-Feb-13 01:30:46

We want him back where he belongs, in Yorkshire.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38772

trishs Tue 05-Feb-13 01:31:57

sorry, forgot to tick the box for the link to the petition

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38772

trishs Tue 05-Feb-13 01:39:35

Here's one of the reasons why

www.achurchnearyou.com/sheriff-hutton-st-helen-the-holy-cross/

trishs Tue 05-Feb-13 01:41:55

And another...
www.middlehamonline.com/Middleham%20Castle.htm

kittylester Tue 05-Feb-13 10:28:09

It would seem a shame to move him trishs and the highly esteemed elected mayor of Leicester has great plans. Hasn't it been announced that he will be buried in the nearest consecrated ground to where he was found?

Actually, I suspect there might be another war if anyone tried to move him from Leicester.

Lilygran Tue 05-Feb-13 10:51:21

You're right, trishs. He should be back in Yorkshire, but I don't think it will happen. Did anyone else watch the programme last night? An hour and a half of trivialisation. Hardly any history, a small amount of science passed over as quickly as possible, absence of archaeology and lots of emotion. A big disappointment.

NfkDumpling Tue 05-Feb-13 11:14:44

Agree, that program could easily have fitted into half an hour. No depth at all. It was a missed opportunity to have said so much more about the man himself and the politics of the Tudor take over. And the family tree and genetics.

Most disappointing.

AlieOxon Tue 05-Feb-13 12:33:29

i missed it but it doesn't look as if I missed much!

Galen Tue 05-Feb-13 12:35:24

I was very disappointed .

BAnanas Tue 05-Feb-13 12:52:16

Just bee looking at the reconstruction of his face, he seems to have been given a very pimply and not very good complexion I'm wondering why?

Pennysue Tue 05-Feb-13 13:52:52

Lilygran & NfkDumpling I was also disappointed with the presentation. There was far to much emotion and not enough background information etc.

Learnergran Tue 05-Feb-13 15:28:45

I can only think that Channel 4 had such a high financial stake in the dig that nobody could prevent what they were up to. I have seldom never seen such a waste of a golden opportunity and cannot believe they were permitted to do it. Was it really the case that the skeleton was lifted in that cavalier fashion by that one woman? And not only that, but instead of filming this extraordinarily interesting and important event, the cameraman treated us to the sight of the effect it was having on Philippa Langley (no disrespect to her - it would not have been happening at all if not for her after all).
But worst of all, am I imagining that the bones-woman (sorry I missed her name) casually mentioned that the large hole on top of the skull had just been caused by HER, "ten minutes ago"??????? Please someone tell me I am imagining this. It was never even referred to again.
Also think the face reconstruction is a largely a load of old tosh. Do we have a GNer who knows about these things?

absent Tue 05-Feb-13 15:35:01

As far as I know, which isn't really very much, it is possible to position "muscle fibres" fairly accurately. Then the face is fleshed out. In the case of Richard III, there are contemporary portrait(s), I think so there would a guide to nose shape and complexion, for example.

janeainsworth Tue 05-Feb-13 15:48:58

Learner
Facial reconstruction isn't a load of tosh. Anatomists know very accurately where on the bones the muscles will have been attached and although it is the bones which give structure to the face, it is the muscle which gives the face its padding. It may have been the historian who said that Richard's diet would have been higher in protein than the diet of the common people, so they could have made an educated estimate of the mass of muscle tissue.
I'm glad it wasn't just me who didn't like the displays of emotion.
I thought the science was fascinating. The teeth interested me of course - Richard was only 32 when he died, but if you look at the teeth you will see that they are worn to a very flat edge - the sort of wear that nowadays you would expect to see in a 70 year-old who had spent a lot of time clenching and grinding! Presumably this is due to a much higher fibre content in the 15th century diet.
The other bit I thought was fascinating was that the osteologist (bone lady) said that several of Richard's bones (pelvic bone and I think tibia) were feminine in shape and apparently there were comtemporary accounts of him being very brave in battle, despite having a feminine physique.

Learnergran Tue 05-Feb-13 15:57:04

Very interesting, thanks. I wish there had been more - much more - knowlegeable, factual, discussion of what was found. There must be so many experts they could have called on to interpret for us what information could have so far been gleaned. I just hope that it is not too late and that there will be further studies and further programmes/books.....

Nelliemoser Tue 05-Feb-13 16:00:18

I heard it was archeological practice generally to bury "assumed christian" remains in the nearest consecrated ground to where they were found. They have to jump through quite a few proceedures to exhumate even ancient remains.

learner when you say the skeleton lifted do you mean excavated or carried in the box to the van. Haveing seen the excavations in September there was only room for one person in that trench. She kept on handing up finger bones to be put in separate bags.

I have a close up picture of the actual trench with its markers. I will post up on my profile. If I can remember how.

Movedalot Tue 05-Feb-13 16:22:44

Apparently he spoke with a Brummie accent.

Rosiebee Tue 05-Feb-13 16:24:10

Just finished reading The Kingmaker's Daughter, the 4th in Philippa Gregory's novels about the Plantagenets. I've really enjoyed in particular the first two, The White Queen and The Red Queen. All the books tell the story of the Wars of the Roses from different viewpoints and you see all the characters in different lights. It gives a much more rounded and sympathetic picture of Richard III. Think it's all fascinating.

Nelliemoser Tue 05-Feb-13 16:32:02

I don't know how he managed to fight in as many battles as he did, since being in his teens, with that appalling degree of scoliosis.

Lilygran Tue 05-Feb-13 16:33:12

Shakespeare had a 'Brummie' ie Warwickshire accent. Richard was sent to Middleham Castle at 12 and all over the place before then. I believe he was born in France. Why would he have a Brummie accent?

Lilygran Tue 05-Feb-13 16:34:53

Whoops. Born in Northamptonshire.

Lilygran Tue 05-Feb-13 16:37:43

Whoops again. Stayed at Middleham till he was 12. That'll teach me to check the facts before I post. Thank you Wikipedia.