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Identification of the remains of King Richard III

Author

Listed:
  • Turi E. King

    (University of Leicester
    School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester)

  • Gloria Gonzalez Fortes

    (University of York
    Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Universität Potsdam)

  • Patricia Balaresque

    (UMR5288-CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse 3 Laboratoire Anthropologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse Faculté de Médecine Purpam 37, allées Jules Guesde)

  • Mark G. Thomas

    (Evolution and Environment, University College London)

  • David Balding

    (Evolution and Environment, University College London)

  • Pierpaolo Maisano Delser

    (University of Leicester)

  • Rita Neumann

    (University of Leicester)

  • Walther Parson

    (Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University
    Pennsylvania State University, Eberly College of Science)

  • Michael Knapp

    (School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University)

  • Susan Walsh

    (Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, Yale University, Yale
    Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam)

  • Laure Tonasso

    (UMR5288-CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse 3 Laboratoire Anthropologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse Faculté de Médecine Purpam 37, allées Jules Guesde)

  • John Holt

    (Space Research Centre, University of Leicester)

  • Manfred Kayser

    (Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam)

  • Jo Appleby

    (School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester)

  • Peter Forster

    (McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge
    Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge)

  • David Ekserdjian

    (University of Leicester)

  • Michael Hofreiter

    (University of York
    Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Universität Potsdam)

  • Kevin Schürer

    (Centre for English Local History, University of Leicester)

Abstract

In 2012, a skeleton was excavated at the presumed site of the Grey Friars friary in Leicester, the last-known resting place of King Richard III. Archaeological, osteological and radiocarbon dating data were consistent with these being his remains. Here we report DNA analyses of both the skeletal remains and living relatives of Richard III. We find a perfect mitochondrial DNA match between the sequence obtained from the remains and one living relative, and a single-base substitution when compared with a second relative. Y-chromosome haplotypes from male-line relatives and the remains do not match, which could be attributed to a false-paternity event occurring in any of the intervening generations. DNA-predicted hair and eye colour are consistent with Richard’s appearance in an early portrait. We calculate likelihood ratios for the non-genetic and genetic data separately, and combined, and conclude that the evidence for the remains being those of Richard III is overwhelming.

Suggested Citation

  • Turi E. King & Gloria Gonzalez Fortes & Patricia Balaresque & Mark G. Thomas & David Balding & Pierpaolo Maisano Delser & Rita Neumann & Walther Parson & Michael Knapp & Susan Walsh & Laure Tonasso & , 2014. "Identification of the remains of King Richard III," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6631
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6631
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