14 DAY TRIAL // In 2012, the remains of King Richard III, killed in 1485 during a battle against Henry Tudor, were recovered from under a parking lot in Leicester, England.
Come 2013, a mysterious limestone sarcophagus was found not far from the monarch's body. Inside this sarcophagus, archaeologists discovered a lead coffin.
Although unearthed a couple of years back, the lead coffin was left sealed until not too long ago. When they finally opened it, researchers with the University of Leicester and colleagues found the skeleton of a woman.
Historians have no idea who the woman might be
The archaeological site that yielded the limestone sarcophagus, together with the remains of King Richard III, was once part and parcel of the Grey Friars friary, which was established in 1250 and dissolved in 1538.
Hence, specialists suspect that the woman was one of high status and that she was laid to rest in this location because she counted herself among the friar's benefactors. However, they are pretty much clueless about her identity.
It is believed that the woman had long passed her prime when she departed. In fact, it is likely that she died of old age. Evidence indicates that she suffered from a congenital hip dislocation all throughout her life.
The scientists who have had the chance to examine her skeleton have reasons to believe that this congenital hip dislocation was so bad that she needed a crutch to get around.
The woman is said to have died either towards the end of the 13th century or sometime at the beginning of the 14th century. Before she was placed in her lead coffin, she was wrapped in a shroud. In time, this shroud decayed to a considerable extent.
Archaeologists hope that, based on what they have so far learned about the woman and also with the help of historical records documenting the friary's benefactors, they will eventually manage to identify her.
Other graves are waiting to be explored
A total of 10 graves have until now been discovered at the site of the Grey Friars friary. Of these, just 5 have until now been excavated. Apart from the remains of Richard III, all the other skeletons thus far recovered belong to women.
Interestingly enough, it appears that, although his being a monarch should have made him worthy of respect, King Richard III was the only one whose body was simply tossed in the ground without too much consideration.
“What stands out more is the contrast between the care and attention taken with these burials - large, neatly dug graves with coffins - and the crudeness of Richard III's grave. The more we examine it, the clearer it becomes how atypical Richard III's burial really was,” said archaeologist Mathew Morris.
