[vetvetdoug]

The curvature in the thoracic vertebrae is evident in the skeleton. Interesting.

[Pontiac]

Radiocarbon dating revealed that the body was from the right era and that the man most likely died between 1455 and 1540. Examination of his bones showed that he died in his late twenties or early thirties; Richard III died at the age of 32.

The man had died a violent death, tallying with Richard’s death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

No doubt a painful death, but perhaps a mercy none the less.

Had he lived in to old age he would have been in constant pain as his scoliosis progressed. As the curvature of his spine progressed spinal nerves would have been pinched between vertebra causing constant pain to the point that eventually he would not be able to sit, walk or lie in any position for any length of time.

On the other hand perhaps such a life would be perhaps fair justice if the reports of his murder of his young nephews are true.

[AnAmericanMother]

Yep, the Richard III Society is going to have to reconcile itself to the fact that he really was "Dick Crookback". They've been saying for years it was just a lie set about by Henry VII and perpetuated by Shakespeare as a lackey of the Tudors. Or something like that.

I love this archaeological detective work. Here it's not just the DNA - it's all the different types of evidence they've been able to pull together, and it all points to this poor beat-up old skeleton with severe scoliosis and cavities and some truly nasty sword/halberd wounds (several of them instantly fatal) really being all that is mortal of King Richard III.