Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case - with Turi King

The Royal Institution・2 minutes read

A genetic and archaeological expert recounts the Richard III project, highlighting the excavation, discovery, and genetic analysis of Richard III's remains, confirming his identity and impact on the monarchy. The research involved complex DNA analysis and Bayesian statistical methods, shedding light on Richard III's genetic predispositions and physical characteristics, ultimately leading to his ceremonial reburial in Leicester Cathedral.

Insights

  • The Richard III project, spearheaded by Philippa Langley, brought together a diverse team of experts encompassing archaeology, genetics, genealogy, and forensic engineering.
  • Richard III's remains, discovered in Leicester, underwent extensive analysis including DNA testing, radiocarbon dating, and lineage tracing to confirm his identity with a 99.999 to 99.99999% probability.
  • The discovery of Richard III's remains not only shed light on his life and death but also had significant historical implications for the monarchy, impacting claims to the throne and the lineage of Yorkist and Lancastrian Plantagenet Kings.

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Recent questions

  • Who was Richard III?

    King of England during Wars of the Roses.

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Summary

00:00

Unearthing Richard III: Genetics, Archaeology, and History

  • The speaker, an expert in genetics and archaeology, recounts her involvement in the Richard III project, initially skeptical of finding his remains.
  • She highlights her academic background in archeology and genetics, influenced by her mentor, Sir Alec Jeffreys, the DNA fingerprinting pioneer.
  • The project's inception is credited to Philippa Langley, a Richard III Society member, who spurred the excavation idea in Leicester.
  • The team for the project included various experts like Matthew Morris, Joe Appleby, Kevin Schurer, and Sarah Hainsworth, combining archaeology, genetics, genealogy, and forensic engineering.
  • Richard III, the last English king to die in battle, is contextualized within the Wars of the Roses, tracing the lineage from Edward III to Henry VII.
  • The speaker details Richard III's movements before his death at the Battle of Bosworth, including his stay at the White Boar Inn and his encounter with Henry Tudor.
  • Historical accounts confirm Richard III's death and burial at the Grey Friars Friary in Leicester, later obscured during the dissolution of the monasteries.
  • Speculation arose about Richard III's grave's location, with mentions in Robert Herrick's diary and John Speed's map, suggesting burial in the river.
  • Scholarly works by Bilson, Audrey Strange, and David Baldwin in the 20th century pondered the potential discovery of Richard III's remains at the Grey Friars site.
  • The speaker, not a Leicester native but immersed in Richard III lore, emphasizes the city's unique connection to the king, evident in its road and statue dedicated to him.

13:29

Unearthing Richard III: Excavation and Discovery

  • The Richard III Visitor Center now houses a refurbished pub, previously known for being rough and owned by a person now in jail for manslaughter.
  • The pub offers Richard III beer and features plaques discussing Richard III's remains and history.
  • Research on Richard III's physical appearance reveals conflicting descriptions, with contemporary sources mentioning a possible spinal abnormality and slender build.
  • An excavation project at Greyfriars aims to locate the Franciscan friary buildings, the choir within the church, and Richard III's remains.
  • Initial mapping and ground-penetrating radar help identify potential excavation areas within the friary precinct.
  • Excavation in a car park uncovers Victorian foundations, robbed-out walls, and a potential chapter house and cloister walk.
  • A skeleton is discovered, but careful excavation and licensing procedures are required before further exploration.
  • Additional trenches reveal evidence of a church structure, including choir footing and a stone coffin, later found to contain a lady in lead.
  • Discoveries like tomb lettering, a coin from Edward IV's era, and heraldic tile patterns suggest the skeleton found on the first day is located in the choir area.
  • The excavation ultimately uncovers Richard III's remains, leading to further exploration and the identification of significant historical artifacts.

26:08

Discovery of Richard III through DNA analysis.

  • Excavation work began on September 4th, with initial focus on a hut, but was interrupted by a film crew's requests, leading to a pause in skeleton excavation.
  • A charnel pit in trench three revealed a woman who had been previously dug up and reburied.
  • Initial assumptions of a nine-year-old friar were shattered when it was discovered to be a young male with head injuries and a hunchback.
  • The excavation team, including Jo and Matthew, suspected the possibility of the skeleton being Richard III, but had to maintain secrecy due to being at a forensics conference.
  • Examination of the skeleton revealed severe head injuries, unusual hand positioning, and a bath-shaped grave, indicating high status burial.
  • The skeleton, identified as Richard III, displayed severe scoliosis, with a Cobb angle of 75, similar to a reenactor named Dominic.
  • Richard III had eleven injuries, with nine on his head, likely from a battle where his helmet came off, resulting in fatal blows to the skull.
  • Radiocarbon dating initially suggested an early date, but stable isotope analysis and genealogical research pointed to a 95.4% probability of the skeleton being from the period Richard III died.
  • DNA analysis, focusing on Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA, was crucial in confirming the identity of Richard III, requiring specific relatives for comparison.
  • The complexity of DNA analysis necessitates specific lineage connections to accurately match the skeleton to Richard III, ruling out random submissions for testing.

37:59

Richard III Descendants Traced Through DNA Analysis

  • Richard III has living descendants, mainly through an unbroken male line, with a focus on Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA analysis.
  • Close male line relatives of Richard III were killed by Henry Tudor, leading to the need to trace back to his great-grandfather Edmund and then down through the House of John of Gaunt to find living relatives.
  • Five living male descendants of Henry Somerset, the fifth Duke of Beaufort, were traced for DNA analysis to potentially match Richard III's remains.
  • The possibility of false paternity events affecting Y chromosome matches was considered, with two instances of illegitimacy found in the family tree.
  • Female line relatives, like Michael Ibsen and Wendy Dole Dig, were identified and included in the DNA analysis to confirm relations to Richard III.
  • Wendy Dole Dig preferred to remain anonymous due to the media attention Michael Ibsen received after being identified as a relative of Richard III.
  • Mitochondrial DNA analysis was conducted on Michael Ibsen and Wendy Dole Dig, showing a strong match between them and the remains of Richard III.
  • Ancient DNA analysis was challenging due to degradation post-death, requiring careful handling to avoid contamination.
  • The mitochondrial DNA analysis showed a perfect match with Michael Ibsen and a single difference with Wendy Dole Dig, indicating a likely match with Richard III.
  • The Y chromosome analysis did not show a match with the living male relatives of Henry Somerset, revealing possible false paternity events in the family tree and raising historical implications for the monarchy.

50:35

"Genetic Discoveries in Historical Royal Lineage"

  • The discovery could impact historical claims to the throne of Edward the fourth and Richard the third, affecting the Yorkist and Lancastrian Plantagenet Kings.
  • The research involved Bayesian statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of remains belonging to Richard the third, with a probability of 99.999 to 99.99999%.
  • Whole genome sequencing is being conducted to gain further insights into Richard's genetic predispositions and physical characteristics, such as eye and hair color.
  • Richard the third underwent facial reconstruction based on his skull, revealing blue eyes and potentially blonde childhood hair.
  • Richard the third's remains were ceremoniously reburied in Leicester Cathedral after being identified, with Benedict Cumberbatch, who played him in a series, being related to him.
  • Jamestown, Virginia, is the focus of a current case involving the potential identification of Sir George Yardley, with DNA analysis being conducted by the FBI.
  • An archaeologist, Richard Buckley, initially expressed skepticism about finding Richard the third, promising to eat his hat if they did, which he fulfilled with a cake hat.
  • The research teams involved in the Richard the third genetics project and the Jamestown investigation are actively working on their respective cases.
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