Despite lack of DNA confirmation of recently dug up
remains of what is suspected to be that of Richard III, a new tomb for the
fifteenth century monarch may divide the British Parliament members.
Two
members from the Labour party did not agree on a common final resting place. However,
members were said to have taken time away from lawmaking and queued to have a
view of the archaeological findings.
The
remains were dug up last month at a Leicester parking lot. Archaeologists found
the bones beneath the site of the Grey Friars church in Leicester, central
England.
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Karen Ladniuk, cleaning a path made from re-used medieval tiles during an excavation of the car park in Leicester. PHOTO:
AP Photo/ University of Leicester.
|
Bones unearthed during the dig
have been sent for DNA testing and the experts hope that they turn out to be
those of the medieval king. Sources, however, said it could
take months for DNA testing to determine if the body is the king's.
History says Richard was buried at the spot after his death in 1485. Richard's
body was brought to Leicester, 100 miles (160 kms) north of London, after the
king was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
Meanwhile, there was an indication that issue
may arise over the final resting place of the king immortalised by William
Shakespeare. According to the Associated Press a Labour lawmaker John Mann has
been quoted saying priory of Worksop, in Nottinghamshire, would be an ideal new
tomb for Richard III, but his Labour colleague, Jon Ashworth of Leicester South disagreed. Ashworth argued: "I am sure Worksop has many fine qualities, but given it was the
Grey Friars who took the body of Richard and buried him at what was then the
Grey Friars' church, a site which is today just a stone's throw from Leicester
Cathedral, and he has been in Leicester for 500 years, it would be most
appropriate that he is finally laid to rest at Leicester Cathedral."
AP says the team that excavated the
bones has identified a direct descendant of Richard's elder sister — a 17th
great-grand-nephew — and obtained a DNA swab for possible matching with any
bones found at the site.
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