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ShareSep. 10, 2012 — The University of Leicester is announcing that the archaeological dig at Greyfriars will continue for a third week as archaeologists get 'tantalisingly close' in their search for King Richard III.
The University of Leicester is leading the archaeological search for the burial place of King Richard III with Leicester City Council, in association with the Richard III Society.
Now, Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby has authorized the work to continue for at least another week following the success of the dig so far and the huge level of interest in it.
In 1485 King Richard III was defeated at the battle of Bosworth. His body, stripped and despoiled, was brought to Leicester where he was buried in the church of the Franciscan Friary, known as the Grey Friars. Over time the exact whereabouts of the Grey Friars became lost.
Over the past two weeks, the team has made major discoveries about the heritage of Leicester by:
• determining the site of the site of the medieval Franciscan friary known as Grey Friars
• finding the eastern cloister walk and chapter house
• locating the site of the church within the friary
• uncovering the lost garden of former Mayor of Leicester, Alderman Robert Herrick
• revealing medieval finds that include inlaid floor tiles from the cloister walk of the friary, paving stones from the Herrick garden, window tracery, elements of the stained glass windows of the church, a medieval silver penny a stone frieze believed to be from the choir stalls amongst others
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