Opening the Medieval Stone Coffin Found at the Richard III Burial Site

www.le.ac.uk/
University of Leicester Archaeologists open the mysterious lead coffin found buried just feet from the former grave of King Richard III. The coffin was discovered in in August 2013 - one year after the remains of the former King of England were unearthed.
Inside the lead coffin archaeologists found the skeleton of an elderly woman, who academics believe could have been an early benefactor of the friary - as radiocarbon dating shows she might have been buried not long after the church was completed in 1250 (although analysis shows her death could have taken place as late as 1400).
The high status female was in one of 10 graves discovered in the grounds of the medieval complex, including that of Richard III, six of which were left undisturbed. Those that were examined were all found to have female remains.
This film was produced by External Relations, University of Leicester.
Filmed & Edited by Carl Vivian

[@MarsFKA]

Any time I am snarled up in rush hour traffic and spending most of the time at a complete stop I try to put it into perspective by reminding myself that it took Richard III five hundred years just to get out of the car park.

[@bieuxyongson]

MarsFKA That’s Brilliant!

[@burniezarsoff4118]

Bwahahaha.🤣

[@shainzishmael7084]

Hahaha, 😂👍

[@normanpearson8753]

Yep ,not bad . (From a Yorkshire guy ,that's some praise ,indeed ! )

[@charliebirdmcfarlie]

MarsFKA legend! I needed that laugh 😂

[@shutupandpick740]

I just love these unboxing videos!

[@joeltucker306]

:-D

[@kayfse8373]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@colinaskey3733]

bruh lmao

[@AmyCCloverlanez]

I laughed way too hard at this post unboxing videos omg. Lol

[@LindaTCornwall]

Unboxing, it's not something they've picked up on eBay! :)

[@janach1305]

I especially noted the cloth and the cord. Finding intact textiles is always rare in archaeology.

[@m.a.sanderson5016]

Saw Shakespeare's R III at Stratford (Ontario) last week. The play had a preamble with the opening of the coffin by U of Leicester anthropologists. The modern day disappeared in a flash and the play began with Richard stepping out of the grave. As a special effect, it was amazing!

[@Matthew-ut6ed]

Great idea!

[@aileen694]

Wow! That must've been quite a surprise...Stratford is a wonderful theatre presence.

[@imisstoronto3121]

Oh lucky you!! I've not been there for decades but I remember it very well!!! What a treat.

[@bahoonies]

@M. A. sanderson Lucky you. What a brilliant piece of theatre. I've visited Shakespeare's grave in Holy Trinity church, Stratford-upon-Avon. Alas the great bard didn't rise on that occasion.

[@MrDeedoyle]

Poor old Shakespeare sometimes ,,, writing his great works ... under such weird politics. Elizabeth 1 supported him and She is underestimated as bringing some kind of religious tolerance. Just need to study how after Richard the throne passed

[@katesdad0]

Interesting, 'high status', buried in a prominent place in the church, and yet who she was is lost in time. Salutatory lesson for those who think they're more important than they are. Despite monuments to our greatness, eventually, we're all forgotten.

[@truthray2885]

Just before this, I was looking at a clip of celebrities buried without markers, and in unknown graves. Surprisingly prominent figures. They had the right idea. All of this is vanity, or comfort for people who will also be gone not at all long after the present deceased. For the right idea of what the inevitable future holds, maybe without the aliens, check out the end of "AI", where the boy robot gets sunk with the Blue Fairy, and eons pass. One day, the world will be a broken, lifeless chunk of rock and ice careening through space. Why pretend otherwise?

[@joet840]

We all have a limited time of conciousness to view the world we live in,then it's over.

[@byrnejr]

You are here. You did what you did. Then you die. Live your life in the hearts of the people you left behind.

[@shakespeare_hall4788]

Aren't you just a little ray of Sunshine ???

[@katesdad0]

@@shakespeare_hall4788 Nothing much very cheery about a 650 year old death now is there?

[@JasonJason210]

Britain is like that. Layers of history. Wherever you dig you find things. Bones, bits of pottery, battlefields, Roman ruins. I've always felt that in the night, the countryside is quite haunted by all this, charged with a mystery as if the past events have left a presence that can be felt.

[@ryanmortimer9849]

you should watch Detectorists

[@gerardcollins80]

*Deep*

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

++JasonJason210++ Yea, I live in a small market town in Lincolnshire which today is mostly Georgian and Victorian buildings with one or two late mediaeval bits and pieces, all sitting on what was a Viking settlement which in turn has Bronze age and Neolithic remains under it. There are a few buildings dating from the 1920's and 1960's but nothing newer than that. It's a typical English country town, nothing special, and yet...

[@johnscarr70]

I live in the neighborhood where Richard's dad met his slightly more undignified end and yes, it's all under our feet. Roman kilns just discovered a couple of miles away. I agree, but I felt really unsettled passing by the flattened site of an old Butlins holiday camp, it definitely had a presence. It doesn't have to be ancient to still have ... Something!

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

++@Monkey D Luffy++ To whom is your rude comment addressed mate? I for one can't tell.

[@tebethful]

Couldn’t have said more depressing and disheartening words “ The skeleton will always remain anonymous.” 😭

[@filmjarvis81]

I feel you...These kind of thoughts always give me the spleen...

[@BigTone999]

Yea, very negative. And how would he know for certain anyhow?

[@bocrews585]

Stacey Padgett videos of her nude or pictured

[@bobrussell3602]

December Hedrick Why is that depressing ? She may have valued privacy, in which case she will always have it.

[@srccde]

But that's the very fate of everyone (who actually leaves bones behind), you know. Eventually, no matter who you were in life, you will be forgotten and who or whatever finds and opens your grave, they will not know what they found, even if you had been the emperor of the world. And if you wait long enough, there isn't even going to be anything left of you to find.

[@rhyfelwrDuw]

When I was a kid I was digging in my parent's garden and I found some beautiful golden jewellery from the Victorian era - my dad sold it though so I haven't got it now - hey ho! I became interested in archaeology! Saw a friend today who is an archaeologist and was telling him about wanting to be one when I was a kid and he replied -"you then saw sense and didn't become one!" Lol! I'm sure he loves his job really!

[@yavehsuarez9392]

I love how angry some people are at the archeologists for digging up ancient remains , I mean it's not like that's their job or anything .

[@snigie1]

Just don't forget that's someone's daughter /wife, just think of it as your kids coffin and people talking excitedly as they poke at their dead body

[@yavehsuarez9392]

@@snigie1 If my body and the bodies of my family get dug up thousands of years from now in not gona be mad , if someone digs my grandmas bodie up a few decades from now or maybe a few centuries from now then yeah that's fucked up , but thousands of years no .

[@yavehsuarez9392]

@Cumberpatch Fingerbottom is that what you like to do fingerbottom

[@kamimikuta4929]

@noah lawrence how? It's important in regards to history.

[@candicehoneycutt4318]

Yaveh Suarez What's the difference between a few centuries and a thousand years? It's not like any of your immediate family would be alive to care.

[@thefourcorners6306]

Seeing that smile of the archeologist talking about it meant he is happy with his job 😊

[@sBabysKid-nk8eh]

History is exciting

[@williammoses6232]

it means he's a satisfied grave robber archeology is nothing just a cover for grave robbing

[@bluesky2195]

@@williammoses6232 Still archeology. Also, its not grave robbing because they arent stealing anything dipshit.

[@ddubentertainment7594]

Imagine being a spirit and watching people separate your bones and put them in Ziploc bags lmao 😂 😂 🤦🏿‍♂️ 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@theboringintoxicatedgamer1933]

king ofhearts Get a ghost group together and play guess who

[@CurtisD01]

@Thomas Olson they're fucking archeologists

[@awilk418]

Thomas Olson I would be stoked if I was a spirit watching a team of archeologists find my bones and be interested in me and my life centuries after the last memories of me had faded away. They can do what they like with the body, I’m not using it anymore.

[@amythechocoholic5761]

As a long-time paleoanthropology nut, this sitch is a dream come true. I want someone to dig me up in a thousand years, wonder what kind of life I led, wondered what I looked like, and put my bones through every test they had available trying to find out the answers. Also, a facial reconstruction because those are badass.

[@ainerobertson78]

@FlappableBean Think about it this way, you're a person whose been completly forgotten about for ages & suddenly you've been rediscovered by scholars who treat your body with reverence & want to know everything about you. It's even better if you think about the peasant remains we've found bc they had such hard lives & here we are treating their bodies like royalty bc they could have invaluable information for us! I'd be honored if that happened to my body

[@Mike649foxx]

Maybe I’m a little weird, but the thought of someone digging up my skeleton in 500 years time and examining it, actually appeals to me. I’d love to think that I could actually do something interesting for our species with my life, or death as the case may be.

[@dustyclark3987]

Creamation the way to do it

[@bstuart8186]

I sincerely hope you get your wish. Good luck champ!

[@Mike649foxx]

@@bstuart8186 Very kind of you sir.

[@madnessintomagic]

I want to pre-scratch a funny message on the inside of my coffin/crypt, so they have something to find besides my bones.

[@rarity9788]

The way society is now, they’re more likely to find implants, and all manner of self mutilations that we currently call “plastic surgery” lol

[@rickracedog3838]

How long do you have to wait before grave robbing turns into archaeology? Asking for a friend...

[@philipwilliams7947]

How it is done, during construction. They find a coffin, they remove it. Then rebury it at a proper cemetery. Thats what your friend told me.

[@ri_frontiersman2048]

Rick Racedog I’m not telling you again, grandma is off limits

[@MM0SDK]

At least 10 minutes into Rigor Mortis.

[@jgunther3398]

It stays grave robbing.

[@jgunther3398]

@Dave C I'd be more inclined to agree if no money was made from it, and the bones went back in the ground. Academic career advancement, attracting paying students. No doubt several layers of people made a profit off this very movie.

[@mollyleonard942]

Love the "Excavate!" shirt with the dalek... very clever

[@margritdemarezoyens9306]

Molly McGaan m

[@chronokev76]

Molly McGaan you are a sexy babe

[@ih8ua119]

Dr Magus, nice one Philistine!!!

[@kathyeubanks5524]

pisswobble 🤣🤣

[@lawrencetate145]

The thing that blows my mind is that, in situe, there must have been grand surroundings that have simply vanished! History ran roughshod right over the the top of Richard and no one knew it. It's a miracle of modern science that this body was ever found, is it not?!

[@jeffreysokal7264]

I cringe at the use of the words "miracle of modern science". There is nothing miraculous about the scientific method. Scientific discoveries can be explained and understood.

[@robertcaffrey6097]

I would like to see a reconstruction of the face of the skeleton they found.

[@dereckllacuna7495]

Wow if Seth Rogan actually put his mind into it he can actually do great things! Good one Seth!

[@jimbob5013]

Too bad he's a Chester.

[@johntr76]

You mean Mark Zuckerberg

[@gallumsgorner6185]

That looks nothing like Seth Rogan.

[@ashleybonanno3043]

I was thinking the same thing!!🤣😂

[@iasimov5960]

I thought it was Peter Sellers.

[@cynthiabroyles4890]

Don't go into archeology my mother said, you'll never make a living at it. Thanks Mom, I've watched these wonderful finds from afar all my life. Thanks so much for sharing. Just wonderful!

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Same as anthropology, environmental science & English Lit. Zero jobs...

[@davehoward22]

I remember seeing a documentary on a medievel knight buried in a lead coffin about 13/14th century and when they opened it they were amazed his internal organs were still intact and actually did an autopsy with a scalpal on his soft liver and retrieved his last meal from his stomach.

[@plymouth5714]

I remember that one - the lead coffin in that instance had remained completely sealed like preserved meat in a tin!

[@Frankie5Angels150]

Ironically, autopsy also proved he had died of lead poisoning!

[@lisayohe1736]

Would love to see it

[@PortmanRd]

Apparently his chest cavity was full of dried blood. A couple theories suggested he either died in battle or a jousting/hunting accident.

[@mariagibson2722]

My word. Amazing.

[@jermed2001]

I remember seeing a documentary about this on PBS. The journey was so intriguing.

[@Sabrina-rn9dn]

Her teeth look great. An as soon as I saw them I was thinking around the 13 to 14 hundreds. Once sugar became available that is when people's teeth went downhill.

[@codename495]

Sabrina 1979 sugar wasn’t available outside of the Gentry until the 1800s. People had horrible teeth well before that. Coarse grinds of flour, little if any hygiene and a predominately carbohydrate diet we’re the culprits.

[@briangoldy8784]

George Washington had One tooth..........an we Know.........Sugar was big in his diet.........very cool.....

[@ernestwalden3894]

Exspecialy in East kentucky lmao

[@Gini-hl9rr]

You are scientist sugarist

[@Mr_Makina]

@@Gini-hl9rr nah, they're just a pseudo intellectual

[@wendyferry2967]

I just love archaeology documentaries. I know this wasn’t one but, nonetheless an amazing find.

[@grahamthompson834]

No

[@unapologetic5150]

That's why cremation is more respectful you don't have to worry that someone will disrespect your mortal remains .

[@thewastedgamer935]

I just can’t understand why you would remove the coffin, what’s in it? A person who wanted to be buried and left alone maybe? In a couple hundred years I know I wouldn’t want to be removed from where ever my supposed ‘final resting place’ was so why would you do it to someone else just because you’re ‘curious’?

[@bradtruscott1510]

What does it matter? They’re dead. Like dead dead. Almost 1000 years dead. No living relatives for 100s of years.

[@thewastedgamer935]

@@bradtruscott1510 Yeh but like they weren’t buried like that wanting to be dug up after a while

[@LuLzMrTom]

2:12 that guy in the middle "I'm helping!"

[@tomthomas9173]

lolllllllll i didnt get while vwatching rge video until saW UR COMMENT LOLL

[@cannedlaughter2535]

He probably didn't have a PhD so he doesn't count. (jk)

[@williamellis6176]

probably actually was helping making sure the stone didn't snap in half

[@AvaT42]

Fascinating. These archeologists have such patience.

[@happycommuter3523]

You have to be SO careful with bones. They are unbelievably fragile.

[@bissells]

Very interesting, you are so knowledgeable! Impressed by how you are able to identify so many of these dirty, rusty items.

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hello how're you doing?😊

[@scottross617]

This is fascinating...Thank you!!

[@harriet2501]

This may be a naive comment, but, when opening even ancient graves, shouldn't the archaeologists wear face masks? Is there no danger of dormant bacteria or viruses being activated even after all this time? As I said, a naive question to those who know the answer, but I don't. In any case, archaeology is a fascinating profession and I always enjoy reading about the discoveries and hypotheses.

[@GodsHelix]

No, not really. Any microbes and bacteria would have long since died, and any virus or infectious disease would also have long since perished.

[@sandstorm2324]

Its ideal to wear it, but they mostly dont, when it an open burial like this. If it is a tomb then yes they wear some protection.

[@Hurricaneintheroom]

Not a silly question. The curse of Tututkamen's tomb when they first opened it. People died because of microbes inside the tomb. The public thought it was the curse brought to life.

[@johngibson2884]

harriet2501 yes it is very dangerous they are foolish .Many deadly bacteria ....Google Cadaverine .....and that's just one . They didn't wear masks not because they don't know ....it's English bravado.But it also is dumb ... They confirm your point when they are TOLD to go to the infirmary first , to confirm " the lead did not preserve dangerous bacteria " ....which means they should not have opened it at the church . All around Europe and even Turkey, they are opening graves with such things as ....plague, smallpox, yellow fever . Who knows what else .

[@biggusdickus8335]

harriet2501 Of course not...its completely safe.... My team & I have been seeking out, and excavating tombs all around the world for almost 40 years now.

[@canadiankewldude]

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Genesis 3:19, KJV

[@patrickbobbin9789]

Amen

[@bakumight4559]

But then why use coffins don't they stop your dust from going back to the earth from which your dust came?

[@bakumight4559]

@Leonie H Idk if the coffins decompose or not. Just curious lol

[@robertlaube574]

@@bakumight4559 stone tends or at least has the ability to last forever.

[@HUNDREDACREWOOD.]

king james was a flaming homosexual, did you know that?

[@chiefc77]

This is such an awesome video!

[@vestaosto]

Would be interested to know what they have found about this woman after more research.

[@pepsiforever1]

I love that the guy says the lid is cracking and proceeds to kneel and walk on it!!

[@annasummers5348]

I love the idea of someone ressurecting you and rediscovering your life after you've been long forgotten, or to learn more about a known person long after they've died. I don't get those who call this " grave robbing'.

[@Frankie5Angels150]

“Resurrecting”? I must have missed the part where “them bones them bones got up and walked around.” Without ascertaining a name, was anything accomplished other than robbing a grave?

[@aussie1546]

What happened to the part "rest in peace"

[@Hristiyan1991]

" His teeth are yellow, because he didn't use the Colgate super white! Avaliable in the super markets! "

[@RonsardMoolman]

Very technical. Thanks guys. Kind regards from South Africa.

[@matthewspringer1369]

I dont think its disgraceful at all. She died and was buried... But unfortunately her tombstone was lost. Excavating this not only brought her (the person who we might think it is) story back to life, it acknowledged her existence. It told her story/history and the Archaeologist treated/handled the remains with care. They do this because they value them and are trained professionals. I actually think its kindof sweet and an honorable thing to do. I think it would be so cool if somone dug up my remains 700 years later if my tombstone disappeared. Hope I would tell a cool history. :)

[@led_farmer]

Grave robbery is still a crime

[@matthewspringer1369]

@@led_farmer No shit. Archeologist preserve and save finds like this... These people have YEARS of study and experience in specialized fields to handle situations like this. They are NOT grave robbers, rather the complete opposite... They don't steal artifacts or treasures and sell them, they don't desecrate bodies or throw then aside. Again they are not grave robbers and it totally legal for them... Why??? Because they're accredited and they've obtained lisenses. Not only in their degrees but also through government orders that require them to handle finds like this that are uncovered usually in construction sites...

[@matthewspringer1369]

@@billybob042665 Ohhhhh okay... yeah so lets just destroy the grave and make way for the new parking lot of a wal-mart... Lets just remove all remembrance of existence for this person and throw it aside... We dont need to hold any value of history or the life of this persons past... /s What are you talking about??.... this was a court order! Archaeologist are required to show up and investigate these things. Thats their job and they do this to make SURE its not criminal activity. By opening up this sarcophagus and understanding what they are looking at we found out that it wasn't a disposed murder victim and we gathered valuable data of the past. They were even able to put a name to this person for the cherry on top. You have not idea what goes into requiring access to dig-sites and if you think this is morally wrong... i dont know what to tell you... This is NOT grave robbery. lol

[@AverageAlien]

@@billybob042665 immoral, fuck off, theres no such thing, feed the bones to some stray dogs, they'll be more useful that way at least

[@why3011]

@@AverageAlien lol you're so edgy bro

[@fuckyouyoutube7921]

I'm always amazed how these things are forgotten in time...

[@chrismcbee2933]

This work is so interesting.

[@DH-pz7bc]

I’ve always been so fascinated with Archaeology.

[@shirleyk.f.6568]

What I do not get is WHY everyone thinks it is OK to dig up graves or tombs. I do not care how old they are, it is still a resting place for someone. Info is not that important that you do crap like that. How would you like someone to dig up your parents or children after they are put to rest.

[@LutzDerLurch]

If we were to bury everyone in the ground and never ever touch anyone ever again, we would have run out of space on the surface of the earth centuries ago.

[@HobbyOrganist]

They aren't "resting" Jim, they are *DEAD* and the worms and decay did plenty of "unresting" on it all

[@russhurst6730]

This has to be some of the most interesting work/careers one could do if in the proper locations for such unique discoveries. Had I not been plagued with a mild case of OCD that would make digging in dirt a literal nightmare I could see myself loving to be part of these crews that excavate ancient relics and historical treasures.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Alas, most people have a mild case of MAL (making a living)...lol

[@prussianowl233]

OCD is the worst

[@buffoonustroglodytus4688]

Yeah it’s a great job to have IF you find something cool. Most of the time you’re just digging up dirt unfortunately.

[@difax9935]

Wow. That would be so awesome and exciting to be a part of.

[@MrTheSmokinman]

It didn't really hit me until 2:04 and I didn't expect to be "triggered" as they call it but to see them take a body out of it's resting place just hit me as being disrespectful. I mean he/she didn't agree to this and it probably went against everything spiritual they believed in at that point in time, not to mention the money and work put in for that service. I could see moving all these bodies to a new resting place but to take them out, wrap their body parts individually in a zip lock bag and store them away like some dinosaur bones to me seems disrespectful and probably against their wishes being that people back then were way more religious than we are today. These bones belong in the ground, not to some archeologist or museum.

[@tubatoucan]

It's literally their job. And the remains where in a construction site. What are the gonna do? Build around the coffin?

[@taraharris5349]

Im Tired Of Seeing People Do This, Just Let Our Ancestors Rest In Peace.. One Day Somebody Going To Open Something Up That SHOULD NOT BE OPENED.

[@kennethbailey2616]

Wow! Super interesting! I love this history so much!

[@laratheplanespotter]

I met Turi King at the Royal Institute in January . It was amo. She’s so kind and so lovely

[@gisselleortiz533]

One day one of these people are gonna dig up a deadly plague

[@williammoses6232]

oooohhhh one can only hope

[@codgertodger]

The plague bacteria cannot survive without a host. The bacteria die, along with the person itvinfected, usually within hours.

[@peacenow42]

@Larry McNeely W5LJM especially in regards to iced remains, we KNOW anthrax can be reintroduced.

[@peacenow42]

@The Reckoning Mold ,virus,bacteria...anthrax for sure from previously frozen carcass

[@truanashabadapressure6621]

Don’t need it we got the Chinese government to spread plagues now unfortunately

[@k.s.333]

A: so what do you see in your crystal ball B: 600 years from now your grave will be discovered and some guy wearing a t-shirt with the word "mu-ha-ha-ha" will look upon your bones. A: wut?

[@Chalky.]

Says the weight of the lid is destroying it after an archaeologist gets in the hole and puts all his weight on top of it.

[@diesel8447]

Seams like somebody went to a good length to keep this sealed...

[@stevensardinta93]

At what point does it cross the line from desecrating a grave, basically grave robbing, to an archeological study? The dead have an inherent right to rest in peace and not be disturbed.

[@MegaBrokenstar]

That line was long ago crossed when Henry VIII had this woman’s gravesite demolished, razed, and abandoned. He is responsible for her disturbance, not this team of archaeologists who are removing her from underneath a parking lot.

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

you do not understand what you are talking about. The idea that a grave is something for eternity and should not be disturbed is only a modern concept. before the victorian era graves were moved around all the time and graves were never permanent. people were buried in rather shallow graves for a certain amount of years. then they were exhumed and their bones were put in a charnel house or osuary pit. and their grave was being re-used There is NOTHING immoral about opening a grave.

[@stevensardinta93]

@@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo , then how do you explain the permenant graves of egyptians in pyramids over 2000 years ago? Or the bible stating Adam was buried in secret in a cave so no one could disturb his grave? Perhaps it is you who doesn't understand what they are talking about.

[@pearlcaster8287]

"See what was inside it?" What did you expect? A Happy Meal?

[@britnic5394]

bullion .... plenty of it about in those times aswell.... best start digging up shit loads of graves... wheres my shovel?

[@joycegentile8552]

LoL a 15 century Happy meal!...leg of mutton ,flask of mead and a sack of oats?

[@duaneantor9157]

Lol a happy meal.

[@tinaloflin1174]

But it's fascinating. I'm dying to know what important female was buried in such an elaborate way!! They already ruled out Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of my heroes.

[@TheKonga88]

@@tinaloflin1174 It was Cilla Black.. 😂😂😂🙌🙌🙌🙌👽💀

[@blipblip88]

A search for opening vintage WW 2 rations kits landed me here..

[@alicehall9643]

Such an amazing find.

[@MySpace662]

You just opened the grave of Count Dracula's blood line, may you all rest in peace.

[@SomeBuddy777]

🦇 👹

[@gunnarthorsen]

The remains of Richard III were found, studied, then reburied with dignity and pomp in Leicester Cathedral. The remains of sailors on the Mary Rose were found, studied, then put on display in a museum for tourists to gawk at. I respect archaeologists and museum "experts" in general, but fail to understand how a basic sense of human connection across centuries - the ability to imagine how the deceased might have lived, laughed, hoped, contributed and suffered and how loved ones grieved - eludes some of them. "Primitive" peoples who buried dead couples or mothers and babies with their arms around each other had a better grip on "humanity".

[@PeachChantilly]

I dont even understand why the pomp though. He killed his own nephews to gain the kingdom and become king. I dont think he shouldve been given any form of anything for that but i guess history is why and so he is still considered a "king" anyway. Sad all around.

[@dannyeglen4750]

John Merricks remains are still on private display for medical students only, despite his families wishes to lay him to rest and that the bones are deteriorating rapidly. So sad. Josef mengele remains are kept in a black velvet back in an office in Germany as his family went claim them. Good!

[@georgepayne9895]

@@megl6148 A lot of the 'character assassination' on Richard 111 was done by the Tudor propaganda machine - helped along by Shakespeare!

[@rogueriderhood1862]

@@PeachChantilly Other versions of history are available, all at least as likely if nor more likely. I think you need to do some further reading.

[@jonpatterson5668]

So much for resting in peace

[@morrisjensen1959]

Who wants to RIP, when I die I want to go off and explore the universe!

[@williamstclaire809]

Fantastic ! Absolutely fantastic.

[@Geep615]

This reminds me of the 2017 movie Ghost Story. In the sense that it reinforces how fleeting and insignificant our existence is

[@outb4thecount]

Always wanted to be an archaeologist.

[@paulajewitt2012]

Deborah Robinson youll have to be an actor first.dont believe me,wellaware1 on youtube and educate yourself on the bullshit.

[@iamtenzin4409]

You're not dead yet, are you? The first thing you must have is an intense sense of curiosity. And don't think you're going to get rich off this either. It's hard work and takes years of training. Is there a particular time period or people you're interested in?

[@Ginny855]

Your comment is 2 years old. What are you doing now? :) I worked in the archaeology for one year (voluntary social year) and I can say: It is awsome! It's true, that it is hard work, it's physically demanding and you must not have a problem with human remains (especially children and babies aren't that easy to handle) and becoming dirty, because most discoveries are made in latrine pits, which are still yellow and often still smell (after hundreds of years)... but if you are willing to do that kind of work, you will find a truly magnificent profession! You can "live" and touch history and see things people, people haven't seen for a very long time! But many archaeologists don't work outside but research in a museum etc. Still very interesting!

[@iamtenzin4409]

Ginny855 - In this portion of the US, a lot of their time is spent in and around constructions sites. Making sure that any remains or artifacts found aren't Native, but rather settlers. The latter usually allows construction to proceed after collecting, recording, and cataloging. The former? Well, that's a whole other world of fun altogether. I'm told there are a lot of antiquities and tribal laws that come into play there. And after Kennewick Man, I'm glad archeology is not my profession.

[@Ginny855]

IamTenzin Here in Germany most of our archaeological activities are on construction sites, too

[@tungstenkid2271]

Call me over-sensitive but I wish archaeologists would say a few respectful words when they unearth old bones such as "Forgive us for disturbing your rest", instead of just plonking the bones in a box and carting them off..

[@colinjoseph3742]

Im sure that would make all the difference

[@paulw176]

so much for the concept of ... RIP.

[@kennapace3869]

I'm so happy they found you Dicken

[@Lostouille]

0:47 imagine when he is looking in the tiny space the cadaver's hand get off 😂😂😂

[@joepalooka2145]

Not enough discussion about the lead shroud. That is truly amazing. Where would that have come from? It's very large, and thick enough to need cutting with shears. What about the soldering? This is an extremely valuable and interesting piece of medieval metal work and metallurgy.

[@spencerwilton5831]

Joe Palooka Lead has been in common use for millennia. It was one of the forest widely used metals. Lead work would have been familiar to any medieval metalworker, it was used for tanks and cisterns, and of course for roofing on high status buildings. It's easy to work with because of the low melting point and easily formed into sheets. There is nothing particularly remarkable about this coffin liner.

[@poppyfoutoulis198]

If it wasn't for the persistence of that amatuer group of historians, that find would never had happened. Kudos to them.

[@glendahawkins9480]

ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING!

[@juanitarichards1074]

I think the dead in these cases wouldn't mind being found and they'd be fascinated if they knew of the advances in understanding and research into how and why they died, how long they had lain there, and remembrance of times past - their time. They are not forgotten after all and their skeletons can tell us many things.

[@eileenhetherington3704]

How do you know? It is a crime in most parts of the world to desecrate a grave, but scientists and archeologists get a free pass? It's wrong.

[@juanitarichards1074]

@@eileenhetherington3704 So why are you watching? So you can sit back and criticize?

[@kyleshertz2277]

​@@eileenhetherington3704I assure you the dead do not care. They're dead.

[@MilesB1975]

I laughed at them deciding to take the skeleton to the Infirmary, just in case. "I'm not dead!" "Go to the Sick-Bay and Matron will give you some Aspirin..."

[@kathleentyson6727]

Utterly fascinating.

[@carriebizz]

Wow history is awesome, its amazing being dug up centuries later

[@EmailBibleStudies]

"A voice says, 'Cry out.' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' 'All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.'” Isaiah 40:6-8

[@tobieTyler6007]

Rest in peace

[@LorraineHatrix]

Hi Tobie ... They should have been left in peace..... But they have been dug up, how bad is that?

[@MostlyCastles]

Amazing that they can tell what her diet was like. Fascinating stuff.

[@tlims1974a]

So much for Rest In Peace! 😢

[@Kittygh]

Love the Dr Who reference on his T shirt.

[@BallymurphyBabe]

As much as it is interesting and fascinating, I feel that it’s disrespectful to disturb the remains. This person who was once buried at peace has now been dismantled and put in different boxes. Maybe in another 500 years people will be digging us up and studying us.

[@robertstallard7836]

Not if you're cremated. Much less selfish than burial as you're not taking up valuable land that's of use for the living.

[@BallymurphyBabe]

Robert Stallard the comment wasn’t about burial or cremation it was about disturbing someone once they have been buried. In regards to cemeteries, the plots of land have been allotted hundreds of years ago and do not widen to allow more people. So I don’t see where it is selfish. But then that’s a completely different topic for discussion.

[@Whom1337]

@@robertstallard7836 yeah we should demolish every single pyramid in egypt for taking up space

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

you do not understand what you are talking about. The idea that a grave is something for eternity and should not be disturbed is only a modern concept. before the victorian era graves were moved around all the time and graves were never permanent. people were buried in rather shallow graves for a certain amount of years. then they were exhumed and their bones were put in a charnel house or osuary pit. and their grave was being re-used There is NOTHING immoral about opening a grave.

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

@@BallymurphyBabe graves sites were NEVER personal property. this is a modern 20th century concept undertakers like to make their customers believe to squeeze more money out of them.

[@2Ryled]

How did they close up the coffin in such a way that u need a can opener type thing to open it?

[@loditx7706]

I suggest that it was not the weight of the lid that cracked the sides of the stone sarcophagus, but the surface activities adding to the pressure. Since it was a carpark, I am guessing that it was prepared in ways similar in those used in the U.S. Large, heavy machines would have been driven back and forth over it and scraped at the topsoil, leveling it for paving. Gravel would have then been distributed evenly over it and then asphalt laid down. Then men with hot tampers would have pounded and smoothed the asphalt or tar by hand and body, as you do, (I learned about the hand tamping from Worst Jobs in History with Tony Robinson.) I suppose there were many more heavy objects, like cars, driving over that stone sarcophagus In the last hundred years. Also, wasn't that area inside a priory church or cathedral when the interments took place? I imagine when which ever was torn down and carried away there was a lot of toing and froing going on. Just a suggestion.

[@jaxxoceans3866]

I can't help but feel it's wrong to remove a coffin from the ground and open it.

[@birddoggin2448]

Yeah...and me, that's why it's the fire pit for me.

[@gina3498]

I want to be cremated thank you very much.dont want people digging me up in a couple hundred years just because its their "job"🙄

[@matijabesednik5334]

@@gina3498 you are a nobody tho

[@gina3498]

@@matijabesednik5334 and you are a nobody too.seriously,get a life🙄

[@matijabesednik5334]

@@gina3498 k

[@americanpsychoedit4554]

It was 11:50 PM and I was wondering how does a person in a coffin looks like 50 years later... Then I found this video! Lol

[@tibchy144]

how old does the coffin have to be before opening it is not considered desecration anymore?

[@yaboyed5779]

These KZbin unboxing video be getting wilder and wilder everytime

[@soran27]

they didnt use hair nets when sifting thru the coffin debris?

[@kmp8985]

Or face masks !

[@jonkneeland]

Weird how it’s ok to dig up / disturb someone’s remains when it comes to research. Anyone who digs me up will be haunted by me 100%

[@everettconrad4685]

I really don't think so 100%. Are you really going to wait around in that grave just so you could haunt them? You may be waiting a long long time, maybe never get the chance to haunt someone...

[@jackhartford521]

I do love archaeology, and also please explain to me why they talk about how fragile the coffin is, but then you have one of the archaeologists kneeling on top of the coffin?

[@sandramcdaniel2]

Definitely don’t see this happen ever. Fascinating

[@IMChrysalis]

What about using forensic artists to recreate her face, guys? That would be fascinating to see!

[@SamLizziesmom]

That's what i was saying

[@IMChrysalis]

@Adam Malec seriously, a lot more than opinion. Forensic artists help solve crimes. There is a sample of her hair. And if there is enough of the skull intact, there are markers on the bone for a lot of the rest, where tendons were connected and so on ... they know about her diet from the analysis of the bone and teeth. Forensics is a scientific area of study, one that is accurate enough to solve crimes. We may never be able to identify which patron she was because there are no known portraits. We may never know why she was buried with a king... but we really can get a glimpse at the past.

[@CurtisD01]

@Adam Malec Don't talk about stuff you don't know about... you legit know nothing about what goes into Forensic reconstruction

[@trotptkabasnbi6655]

The bones were divided up and went to private collectors and. The black market

[@steveo4601]

Sitting on top of it, very professional.

[@charlieclark2609]

You got a better way to be able to get to it at a better angle to support your weight to do that job ?

[@steveo4601]

@@charlieclark2609 a plank.

[@charlieclark2609]

@@steveo4601 maybe they didn't have a plank laying around. Also I highly doubt the dead person gave a shit that he had his knee propped up on his coffin. Dead bodies are dead bodies, no matter who it is. Propping your knee up on a sarcophagus isn't disrespectful. If he had opened the casket and put his knee in the chest cavity, then that would be disrespectful , just from a standpoint of you wouldn't want someone to do that to your uncle or whoever family this is

[@steveo4601]

@@charlieclark2609 , well I'm out of lumber answers,😁

[@ron-om1qh]

so much for rest in piece.

[@420MRNICEGUY818]

Great video

[@thesaneparty4079]

If we're just going to dig everybody up and try to identify what they ate, why don't we just display people in museums when they die with a list of their favorite foods?

[@vc6596]

Would you want people 100s of years from now digging up your grave and opening up your coffin? I wouldnt...give the dead respect

[@bevyking6570]

Although I understand the interest, I don't understand why it is okay to open someone's coffin no matter how old it is. It just doesn't seem right to me. But here I am sitting here watching it?!?

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hi how're you doing?

[@EarendilTheBright]

I'm not condemning them, but it's always a surprise how destructive archaeology has to be (i.e. destroying the sarcophagus to get the bones).

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

Manwë Súlimo I can understand how you feel. In the bad old days of archeology their was a lot of willful destruction of artifacts & tombs in order to get to what they the saw as the true 'treasure' the gold ect. But modern archeologists take every care possible to preserve as much as they can. Because they feel that *everything* they excavate is true treasure - wether its made of gold & covered in diamonds, or someones 500 year old turd. It all gives a valuable window into the past. & if you'll remember from watching the video they said the sarcophagus was already damaged from being in the ground. As for the lead coffin the took great care to open it away from the soldered rim so they could preserve as much information about the coffin as possible. Sometimes archeologists have to 'break into' things in order to find out what's inside. But they follow strict procedures to ensure that nothing gets destroyed & they try to preserve much as possible. Once they got the sarcophagus back to the university lab they would have cleaned, preserved & reconstructed it (if possible). & possibly put it on display in the local museum for all to enjoy.

[@guitarfoundry]

the sarcophagus as already in ruins

[@Em-kg7qn]

Well archaeologist always say that the best way to destruct an archaeological site, is by excavating it! That's why we have to keep a very very detailed diary of everything we see and do and take many photos before doing anything.

[@iamtenzin4409]

Amarina E - And now with digital surveying, you can create 3D records of objects, down to the last surface detail before they are even removed from the site. Add to that advances in remote sensing devices and the need to dig is getting further reduced.

[@rosestewart1606]

I just felt like the entire dig including the part before this was destructive. There's another video for that. They went in with a bulldozer and dug so deep they broke Richard III's leg bones. Then one broke his skull with a pickaxe. Then they figured out it was probably him. They also tore out every wall within the pit. It really may have been just this team. I don't think it's normal what they did there

[@momof2momof2]

I am always caught between being very interested in this kind of subject, and feeling that its just wrong to do this.

[@Myffy]

Me Too!. People shouldn't be laid to rest then dug up like potatoes in the name of curiosity

[@phyllisruthmick5391]

I agree! I know exactly how you feel because I also feel the same way!

[@phyllisruthmick5391]

@@Myffy You're right of course! It feels very disrespectful to do such a thing out of mere curiosity. Possibly if this sort of thing is/was done out of necessity for preserving an ancient site or because it could genuinely help in an important way then I think that I could or would be more inclined to be more accepting or more agreeable.

[@Myffy]

@@phyllisruthmick5391 I just feel like human beings should stop being so meddlesome and just leave things alone! Especially graves

[@peacenow42]

@@phyllisruthmick5391 what if we find a cure for a current trouble through our investigations? It could happen.

[@donmcc6573]

So, what is the statute of limitations on grave desecration?

[@infinitepower6780]

"carefully dismantle" *throws stone parts onto ground **sees chips crack and flake off

[@dogstylez585]

They should do DNA testing and find living relatives

[@twoshedsjackson6478]

It would be like Henry III, there would probably be millions.

[@jimajams7080]

Did you not hear what they said?

[@Esteban-rv7ze]

Yes and find the true heir.

[@kathleenmurphy2379]

@@jimajams7080 I don't think they watch the whole video otherwise they know there were no living relatives that they knew of to the lady they suspected this body belong to or what was left of the body

[@NicoleHeavenLewis]

@@kathleenmurphy2379 all it takes is one dna sample to match worldwide if using the right database. But i get what your saying. Maybe one day they will revisit this lady and see if they can find any living relatives