Journalist Greig Watson reported on the extraordinary discovery of Richard III’s skeleton in 2012, which was found beneath a council car park in Leicester, shocking both the academic and broader communities. Despite the confirmation of his identity in January 2013, it took until March 2015 for his reinterment at Leicester Cathedral to occur, as disagreements and disputes delayed the process. The planning of a fitting ceremony for a medieval king, a tradition not observed for more than 500 years, added to the complexity of the event.
The initial excavation, spearheaded by the Richard III Society and conducted in partnership with the University of Leicester with support from Leicester City Council, led to the unearthing of Richard’s remains. The discovery of his bones in the early hours of the dig was ironic, given the years of being lost. The identification of the king was made possible by comparing the DNA of surviving descendants with the skeleton, with genetics expert Turi King acknowledging the collaborative effort that made the project successful.
Controversies surrounding the project emerged, including debates about the ownership of Richard’s remains, the treatment of the bones, the design of the tomb, and the burial location. Legal challenges, such as the one aiming to move the remains to York due to Richard’s strong ties to the city, drew out the resolution process. Despite the modern tomb design sparking disagreements, the project highlighted the intersection of archaeology with deep-rooted sentiments of local pride and identity
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