Plan B Forum

Richard III dig: Archaeologists 'tantalisingly close'



The search for the grave of Richard III under a Leicester car park is "tantalisingly close" to its goal, officials have said.

Richard was killed at the nearby battle of Bosworth in 1485 and is believed to have been buried in Greyfriars church.

Archaeologists from the University of Leicester have found traces of this building and have now gained permission to extend the dig.

Originally scheduled for two weeks, it will now run for at least three.

Documents traced by the team show Richard was buried in the choir of the church.

Trenches across the car park uncovered walls which are now confirmed as being part of the church - but not exactly which part.

Richard Buckley, co-director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services, said: "We are now tantalisingly close in our search and will investigate the choir where Richard is presumed to be buried.

"Whether we find Richard or not, this dig has been a huge success in terms of revealing the heritage of Leicester and I am proud that the University of Leicester has played a pivotal role in the telling of that story."

Philippa Langley from the Richard III Society said: "If we can make the right estimate of where we are in the church, that is what we have to do now, we have to go for it.

"We have been given this week extension, we could possibly get another, so it's game on."

On Saturday more than 1,500 people queued to see the site during an open day.

Archaeologists searching for the grave of Richard III have said "strong circumstantial evidence" points to a skeleton being the lost king.

The English king died at the battle of Bosworth in 1485.

A dig under a council car park in Leicester has found remains with spinal abnormalities and a "cleaved-in skull" that suggest it could be Richard III.

The University of Leicester will now test the bones for DNA against descendants of Richard's family.

Professor Lin Foxhall, head of the university's School of Archaeology, said: "Archaeology almost never finds named individuals - this is absolutely extraordinary.

"Although we are far from certain yet, it is already astonishing."

YouTube: Fancy dress history teacher posts lessons online



A teacher is giving history lessons by dressing up as famous characters from the past and filming them on YouTube for his pupils.

David Perkins felt his class of 11 to 13-year-olds at Duffryn High School in Newport were bored with learning through books and blackboards.

The 28-year-old started off in 1066 dressing up as William the Conqueror for the Battle of Hastings.

He told pupils: "Go home and log on to YouTube".

Mr Perkins bought a box of wigs and made some colourful costumes to film himself acting out the lives of great historical figures for the videos which are up to five minutes long.

His videos have received hundreds of hits online.

"I just wanted to try a new way of presenting history and what better than YouTube?" he said.

"The kids love to see teachers making fun of themselves and they just seem more receptive - it's had a really good reaction."

Mr Perkins has also dressed up as the last Anglo Saxon King Harold Godwinson who died after an arrow pierced his eye in the battle.

And he also played Norwegian King Harald Hardrada who was involved in the same year in a struggle for the English crown.

Medieval priest Martin Luther and a mythical monk by the name of Friar Perkins are other characters and he plans to bring Elizabeth I - the Virgin Queen - to life in later videos as well as pathologists who examined the victims of Jack The Ripper.

"The children love using computers and mobile phones so I thought I'd try and reach them that way," Mr Perkins said.
David Perkins in his real guise David Perkins in his real guise

"You need to change things you are doing with the kids - if you don't keep it fresh it's like everything, it becomes old and boring.

"We need to change the rules of how we deliver."

He added: "I don't have a script I just go in front of the camera and wing it - although we've had to stop filming a couple of times because I am prone to get the giggles."

Archaeologists searching for the grave of Richard III have said "strong circumstantial evidence" points to a skeleton the lost king being the lost king a skeleton.

Guinevere wrote:Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time is a must read if you haven't yet. Convinced me that old Crouchback was innocent of all charges.

The Hen wrote:I read a book about Richard the Third once.

I think the author was Bacon.

Mmmmm Bacon.

Gob wrote: