Back in 2012, archaeologists stumbled upon a remarkable find in a parking lot in Leicester, England: the remains of King Richard III, one of the most infamous and disputed figures in British history. After being lost for over five centuries, the king’s final resting place was finally uncovered, but with it came a slew of mysteries that have yet to be fully explained, including the presence of a peculiar lead coffin buried just a few feet away from the king’s remains.
What secrets did this ancient container hold? Upon opening the coffin, archaeologists discovered the skeletal remains of an elderly woman whose identity remains a mystery. Did she precede or succeed the king? How was she related to him? Fortunately, through the use of radiocarbon dating, we may now have a chance to uncover the truth.
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Top image: Opening the Medieval Stone Coffin at Richard III Burial Site. Source: University of Leicester / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
