Free Lecture on the Archaeology & Genetics of Richard III

The 2013 Alumni Lecture: The Search for Richard III – the Archaeology and the Genetics

6.00pm on Thursday 21 March Peter Williams Lecture Theatre, Fielding Johnson Building, South Wing

Free and open to the public

This year’s Alumni Lecture at the University of Leicester will provide an insight into the Search for Richard III with a focus on the archaeological search for the King and the process of identifying the skeleton.

The lecture, ‘The Search for Richard III – the Archaeology and the Genetics’ on Thursday 21 March, will be presented by two University of Leicester graduates and leading members of the Richard III Project Team.

It is free and open to the public. Mathew Morris was Fieldwork Director on the Grey Friars dig and is an Archaeologist in the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services; and Dr Turi King was Project Geneticist and Lecturer in Genetics and Archaeology in the Department of Genetics and the School of Historical Studies.

The University of Leicester led the Search for Richard III, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society. Mathew will place Grey Friars in the context of medieval Leicester and will look at how the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services undertook the search for the Friary, what was found and explain what it tells us about Grey Friars. Mathew will then examine the archaeological and osteological evidence for identifying the skeleton as Richard III.

Mathew said: “As an archaeologist it is really unusual to be given a chance to look for someone who you can actually put a name to, who isn’t anonymous but is an important historical figure with a tangible story.”

To follow, Dr Turi King will speak about her part as the Project Geneticist and the DNA analysis which contributed to the evidence that these were indeed the remains of Richard III.  With her background in both genetics and archaeology, Dr Turi King was brought onto the Grey Friars project early on.  Her role was to advise on the excavation of any remains deemed suitable for ancient DNA analysis and then to conduct such analysis as it arose.

Dr King said: “This has been a tremendously exciting project to be a part of and it’s been a privilege to work as part such a great team.  I will never forget the feeling of looking at the first sequencing results and seeing the match; I went utterly still.” The Alumni Lecture will take place on Thursday 21st March from 6.00pm in the Peter Williams Lecture Theatre, Fielding Johnson Building, South Wing.

University graduates, staff, students and members of the public are all welcome to attend. For more information and to book your place, please visit http://www2.le.ac.uk/alumni

You can also email alumni.relations@le.ac.uk or telephone: 0116 223 1071.

Keep abreast of the latest Alumni news and events on our webpage: http://www2.le.ac.uk/alumni and via our Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/leicesteralumni

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