Lifting the lid
Posted on 23 July 2013 by Charlotte Barratt - Richard III Outreach Officer
Cutting the mortar seal off the Stone Kist ready to lift the lid.
Today was the day we lifted the lid on the stone coffin. The rain overnight had created a series of pools around the dig site, so it was a good job a tent had been put up over the coffin otherwise it would have been surrounded by pools of water!
There were quite a few people on site today in anticipation of the lid lifting. It proved quite useful, as you will notice. Firstly straps were carefully placed under the lid and then dig strong people carefully lifted the heavy solid stone lid off and away. There was a lot of breath holding while this happened. Nobody really knew what they expected to find inside.
Inside we saw a lead coffin, most of it is in fairly good condition. The "feet end" has degraded and the occupants feet are visible, but apart from that there are no identifying features! It is like an elaborate game of pass the parcel! So, at this stage, we are no closer to finding out who it is.
As in true Greyfriars tradition, shortly after lifting the lid, there was a tumultuous thunder storm!
"How are we going to lift this Stone Kist then?"
About the blog
Keep up to date with the progress of the Grey Friars Dig Part II throughout July 2013 via regular updates on this site. The body of King Richard III was discovered here in 2012 – who and what else lies beneath this now-famous car park?
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