Injuries

After excavation, the bones were carefully cleaned with water and soft brushes. This revealed more significant injuries on the skeleton, to add to those visible when the remains were first uncovered.

At least eleven injuries have been identified. We cannot determine in which order the injuries were received – all that we can say for certain is that all of them happened at around the time of death (peri-mortem), as there is no indication that any had started to heal. It is not possible to distinguish between skeletal injuries occurring just before death and those occurring just afterwards. Interpretation of the wounds relies on knowledge of medieval weapons and armour as well as on the bones themselves.

Although it has been possible to identify numerous wounds on the skeleton, there are various other ways to injure or kill someone which would leave no mark on the bones and it is likely that Richard suffered additional wounds that have left no trace.