Ep 6. Resurrecting Richard III

In season 13, episode 6 of Secrets of the Dead, titled "Resurrecting Richard III," viewers are taken on an extraordinary journey to uncover the true form and story of the infamous ruler.

The episode begins with a refresher on the events that led to the discovery of Richard III's remains in 2012. The audience is reminded that in 1485, Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, leading to the ascension of the Tudor dynasty, which included Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. After his death, Richard III's body was taken to Leicester, where it was buried in a friary that was later destroyed. For many years, historians and archaeologists speculated about the location of his remains.

In 2012, the Grey Friars Project was launched to try to locate the friary and Richard III's burial site. Using ground-penetrating radar and other scientific techniques, a team of archaeologists led by Dr. Richard Buckley of the University of Leicester was able to locate the church and the grave in which Richard III was buried.

The episode continues with a detailed examination of Richard III's skeleton. Viewers are shown how scientists uncovered clues about Richard III's life by studying the bones, teeth, and other remains. They determined that Richard III suffered from scoliosis, a condition in which the spine is curved, which had previously been speculated upon and became the popular representation of Richard III indicating his hunchback nature. Additionally, forensic analysis of his skull wounds suggested that he was killed by blows to the head, which confirms the historical accounts from the Battle of Bosworth Field.

With the discovery of his remains, new questions about Richard III's life and reign have arisen. The episode explores his reputation as a ruthless, tyrannical ruler and how much of it is based on Tudor propaganda. The audience is shown how historians and archaeologists used scientific and historical evidence to challenge the traditional historical version of Richard III's life, particularly with regards to his alleged crimes- such as the murder of his nephews.

The episode concludes by highlighting the ways in which Richard III has been transformed from a historical figure into a cultural phenomenon, citing the enduring popularity of Shakespeare's play, Richard III. As the episode ends, viewers are left with a renewed appreciation for the power of science and technology to uncover lost historical secrets and for the ways in which our understanding of the past is constantly evolving.