The bones in the Abbey: are they the murdered princes? A review of the evidence.
In 1674, the skeletons of two children were found in the Tower of London. They were believed to represent the remains of the "Princes in the Tower" (who had disappeared in 1483), and were reinterred as such in Westminster Abbey. Popular belief and conventional historical tradition held that the princes had been murdered by their uncle, King Richard III, to clear his path to the throne. In 1933, the bones in the Abbey were disinterred and examined, with the conclusion that they were indeed those of the princes. One skull was also thought to show evidence of death by suffocation, supporting another feature of popular legend. Later reviews of the investigation, however, revealed significant errors and omissions. This report summarizes the inconsistencies present in the scientific record and suggests that reexamination of the remains with improved techniques in both carbon dating and forensic science would provide a much more accurate analysis, thus helping to clarify the historical record.
Bramwell
N H
NH
Department of Pathology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Byard
R W
RW
D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D004739:England; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000266:history*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans