linz's review against another edition
4.0
(I won a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.)
Digging for Richard III is a fascinating look at the process of finding Richard III's body, and the subsequent process of determining that the body was, in fact, his.
It starts at the very beginning, when the dig was first commissioned - when no one believed that he was even buried there, much less that they would actually find him - and follows each step, up until the final press conference.
It was interesting to read about the archaeological side of the discovery, as well as the scientific side, not to mention the historical aspects involved. While not an in-depth biography of Richard III, of course, the author still manages to include some background information about him.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and while it was a bit slow at times, it still held my interest. I would recommend this to those interested in this discovery, especially if they are fascinated with archaeology.
Digging for Richard III is a fascinating look at the process of finding Richard III's body, and the subsequent process of determining that the body was, in fact, his.
It starts at the very beginning, when the dig was first commissioned - when no one believed that he was even buried there, much less that they would actually find him - and follows each step, up until the final press conference.
It was interesting to read about the archaeological side of the discovery, as well as the scientific side, not to mention the historical aspects involved. While not an in-depth biography of Richard III, of course, the author still manages to include some background information about him.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and while it was a bit slow at times, it still held my interest. I would recommend this to those interested in this discovery, especially if they are fascinated with archaeology.
lcbeutler's review against another edition
2.0
For a story I found fascinating and followed obsessively in the news, this book was dead boring. It was, however, very informative.
msmandrake's review against another edition
4.0
I've seen the swell documentary (on Netflix) that this book is a sort of companion to. It fills in further details, some of which are predictably a little dry (like the section on how they got the funding for the project). But of course it's strictly for those like myself who are totally nerdy on this particular subject, but I should be, because Richard is my 5th cousin 18 times removed via Edward I. How bout that?
nonna7's review against another edition
5.0
"History is written by the victors." Winston Churchill
As a 12 yr old, I read a book called The Last Plantagenet, an utterly romantic book of historical fiction narrated by a young commoner who is the mistress of Richard III. The author makes the case, through this narration, that Richard III was vilified by history. Josephine Tey wrote a book about a bed bound detective who investigates the story and finds enough in the historical record to indicate that Richard III was NOT the villain that Shakespeare made him out to be. (Regardless of that, Richard III is an amazing play. The film starring Ian McClellan which places Richard III in a 1930's Nazi Britain is wonderful.) Shakespeare was, after all, trying to make the regime, Tudors, look good. Or so some would say. Perhaps he truly believed the stories that make Richard out to be evil and twisted, both in body and mind. A few months ago, I was listening to NPR which featured an interview with Mike Pitts, British archaeologist and author of this book. Happily, our library bought some copies. This is a fascinating and (mostly) absorbing book. It demonstrates the power of an individual, in this case, Phillipa Langley, a screenwriter and "presenter" who fell ill and took a book with her on vacation - one that most of us would not pick up. It was a book written in the 50's that said that history had it all wrong: Richard III was actually a good guy. By sheer force of will and her ability to connect with people, she literally gets the ball rolling. Who knew that there are Ricardian societies all over the world who love Richard III and defend his honor? Ms. Langley was able to get them excited enough to help with the project financially. The rest of the story in in this book. What got me interested was learning that they had found his skeleton under a car park in Leceistershire. If history and/or archaeology interest you, then get this book. It's a blast.
As a 12 yr old, I read a book called The Last Plantagenet, an utterly romantic book of historical fiction narrated by a young commoner who is the mistress of Richard III. The author makes the case, through this narration, that Richard III was vilified by history. Josephine Tey wrote a book about a bed bound detective who investigates the story and finds enough in the historical record to indicate that Richard III was NOT the villain that Shakespeare made him out to be. (Regardless of that, Richard III is an amazing play. The film starring Ian McClellan which places Richard III in a 1930's Nazi Britain is wonderful.) Shakespeare was, after all, trying to make the regime, Tudors, look good. Or so some would say. Perhaps he truly believed the stories that make Richard out to be evil and twisted, both in body and mind. A few months ago, I was listening to NPR which featured an interview with Mike Pitts, British archaeologist and author of this book. Happily, our library bought some copies. This is a fascinating and (mostly) absorbing book. It demonstrates the power of an individual, in this case, Phillipa Langley, a screenwriter and "presenter" who fell ill and took a book with her on vacation - one that most of us would not pick up. It was a book written in the 50's that said that history had it all wrong: Richard III was actually a good guy. By sheer force of will and her ability to connect with people, she literally gets the ball rolling. Who knew that there are Ricardian societies all over the world who love Richard III and defend his honor? Ms. Langley was able to get them excited enough to help with the project financially. The rest of the story in in this book. What got me interested was learning that they had found his skeleton under a car park in Leceistershire. If history and/or archaeology interest you, then get this book. It's a blast.
123rsijrcl's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the singular best archaeology book I've read- Pitts seamlessly weaves in personalities and events (the reoccurring mention of Richard Armitage gave me a good giggle) amongst the events of Richard III's life and rediscovery, right down to his bizarrely multi-cultural reburial ceremony. Absolutely gripping and packed with interesting information, he presents the typically dry archaeological events in a narrative that can be easily understood by anybody.
I do have to disagree with another reviewer touting an archaeology degree (me too!)- Pitts backs up his evidence in the back of the book, and it's all easily available online for those who want it. This isn't a book for archaeologists, and shouldn't be made difficult for them to access with a ton of scholarly jargon and statistics.
I do have to disagree with another reviewer touting an archaeology degree (me too!)- Pitts backs up his evidence in the back of the book, and it's all easily available online for those who want it. This isn't a book for archaeologists, and shouldn't be made difficult for them to access with a ton of scholarly jargon and statistics.
kikael's review
5.0
http://www.hyperebaaktiivne.ee/2018/02/ix-ehk-kuidas-leiti-richard-iii-luud.html
Lugesin eelmisel aastal R. L. Stevensoni seiklusromaani "Must nool", kus ühe tegelasena figureeris ka Richard III, kes mind väga huvitama hakkas. Lubasin sel aastal käsile võtta ülevaate kuninga luude avastamisest ning otsustasin raamatut lugeda juba nüüd kohe aasta alguses. See kannab pealkirja "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III", autoriks Mike Pitts. Lisaks loen täidetuks väljakutse punkti - 15. Raamat mõne valitseja (kuninga, kuninganna, presidendi, tsaari, keisri, füüreri jne.) kohta.
2011-2015, Leicester. Philippa Langley sattus vaimustusse Richard III-st ning külastades kohti, kus kuningas tegutses, jõudis ta muidugi Leicesteri. Ühes parklas ütles naise sisetunne ütleb, et just seal asfaldi alla on mehe haud. Langley kontakteerus ülikooliga ja sai teada, et arheoloogid ei tegele luude otsimisega. Siiski suudetakse kokku leppida plaanis otsida frantsisklaste kloostri varemed, tuvastada hoonete orientatsioon ja paiknemine, tuletada kiriku ja koori asukoht, ja kui hästi läheb, siis leida Richard III säilmed. Kaevamise algusest kulus koos lõunapausiga kuninga luustiku leidmiseks 6 tundi ja 34 minutit. Esmalt paistsid mullast küll vaid sääreluude otsad. Veidi hiljem avastati kõver selgroog ning seejärel tehti palju erinevaid katseid, et tõestada skeleti omanik. Selgus, et tegu ongi otsitud kuningaga! Järgnes vaidlus selle üle, kuhu matta säilmed.
"Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" tundus mulle juba teema poolest põnev ning ma ei pidanud pettuma. Mulle väga meeldis autori stiil ning kogu protsess alates Philippa esimesest tutvusest Richard III-ga kuni säilmete taassängistamiseni oli kirja pandud väga kaasahaaravalt. Ainult esimene peatükk, mis rääkis kuningast endast, oli veidi kuiv. Lugu ise tundus muidugi uskumatu. Mõned detailid tundusid liialdatud, nagu Philippa sisetunne, et kuningas puhkab parkla all. Kõige ulmelisem oli muidugi see, et luud leiti kohe esimesest kohast, kuhu kopp maasse löödi.
Vaieldamatult põnevaim osa oli, kuidas tehti kindlaks, et leitud kõverdunud selgrooga luustik tõesti otsitud kuningale kuulus. Mulle meeldis, et detailid olid täpselt parajalt lahti seletatud ning arheoloogia protsess sai selgemaks. Hämmastav, kui palju infot 500 aasta vanune luustik endas peidab. Näiteks saab luude koostise järgi hinnata omaniku toidulauda. Palju kõnelevad ka vigastused ning nende võrdlus teiste sama ajastu luustikega. Lisaks rekonstrueeriti kolba järgi nägu, mis meenutas väga Richard III maale. Samas on väidetud, et kuningas ise oma maale ei meenutanud. Viimaks sai määravaks muidugi DNA analüüs. Eelmisel semestril õppisime, et vanadelt proovidelt on parimaks võimaluseks saada mtDNA-d ehk siis mitokondriaalset DNA-d. Seda tehnikat kasutati näiteks ka Romanovide tuvastamisel. Raamatu abil sain seega õpitud teadmisi üle korrata ja kinnistada.
Lugu ei lõppenudki sellega, et luud üles leiti ning nende omanik kindlaks tehti. Pärast seda läks lahti uus sõda, et selgitada välja, kuhu kuningas ümber tuleks matta. Mitmed osapooled tundsid, et neil on õigus see otsus teha. Näiteks ilmus välja inimesi, kes väitsid, et on kuninga sugulased. See osa raamatust üllatas mind eriti. Mõttetute vaidluste lõpuks jäi kehtima muidugi algne plaan ja Richard III puhkab Leicesteris edasi. Muidugi tekkis nüüd soov minna ise kogu seda sündmuspaika vaatama.
Veel üks uus huvitav teadmine, mida raamat pakkus, oli see, et arheoloogidele ei meeldi tegelikult inimsäilmetega tegelda, sest esiteks on nende väljakaevamiseks vaja taodelda luba, mis suurendab kulutusi ja nõuab lisaaega. Teiseks on emotsionaalne pool, sest luudega tegelemine paneb tahes-tahtmata surmale mõtlema.
Mulle meeldis "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" väga, sest mind huvitas teaduslik taust ning uuringud, mida luudega tehti. Luude leidmise lugu oli kirja pandud kaasahaaravas stiilis. Minul oli igatahes põnev lugeda ning uusi teadmisi sain ka kuhjaga. Kogu lugu oli väga uskumatu. Soovitan väga lugeda, kui arheoloogia huvi pakub!
Lugesin eelmisel aastal R. L. Stevensoni seiklusromaani "Must nool", kus ühe tegelasena figureeris ka Richard III, kes mind väga huvitama hakkas. Lubasin sel aastal käsile võtta ülevaate kuninga luude avastamisest ning otsustasin raamatut lugeda juba nüüd kohe aasta alguses. See kannab pealkirja "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III", autoriks Mike Pitts. Lisaks loen täidetuks väljakutse punkti - 15. Raamat mõne valitseja (kuninga, kuninganna, presidendi, tsaari, keisri, füüreri jne.) kohta.
2011-2015, Leicester. Philippa Langley sattus vaimustusse Richard III-st ning külastades kohti, kus kuningas tegutses, jõudis ta muidugi Leicesteri. Ühes parklas ütles naise sisetunne ütleb, et just seal asfaldi alla on mehe haud. Langley kontakteerus ülikooliga ja sai teada, et arheoloogid ei tegele luude otsimisega. Siiski suudetakse kokku leppida plaanis otsida frantsisklaste kloostri varemed, tuvastada hoonete orientatsioon ja paiknemine, tuletada kiriku ja koori asukoht, ja kui hästi läheb, siis leida Richard III säilmed. Kaevamise algusest kulus koos lõunapausiga kuninga luustiku leidmiseks 6 tundi ja 34 minutit. Esmalt paistsid mullast küll vaid sääreluude otsad. Veidi hiljem avastati kõver selgroog ning seejärel tehti palju erinevaid katseid, et tõestada skeleti omanik. Selgus, et tegu ongi otsitud kuningaga! Järgnes vaidlus selle üle, kuhu matta säilmed.
"Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" tundus mulle juba teema poolest põnev ning ma ei pidanud pettuma. Mulle väga meeldis autori stiil ning kogu protsess alates Philippa esimesest tutvusest Richard III-ga kuni säilmete taassängistamiseni oli kirja pandud väga kaasahaaravalt. Ainult esimene peatükk, mis rääkis kuningast endast, oli veidi kuiv. Lugu ise tundus muidugi uskumatu. Mõned detailid tundusid liialdatud, nagu Philippa sisetunne, et kuningas puhkab parkla all. Kõige ulmelisem oli muidugi see, et luud leiti kohe esimesest kohast, kuhu kopp maasse löödi.
Vaieldamatult põnevaim osa oli, kuidas tehti kindlaks, et leitud kõverdunud selgrooga luustik tõesti otsitud kuningale kuulus. Mulle meeldis, et detailid olid täpselt parajalt lahti seletatud ning arheoloogia protsess sai selgemaks. Hämmastav, kui palju infot 500 aasta vanune luustik endas peidab. Näiteks saab luude koostise järgi hinnata omaniku toidulauda. Palju kõnelevad ka vigastused ning nende võrdlus teiste sama ajastu luustikega. Lisaks rekonstrueeriti kolba järgi nägu, mis meenutas väga Richard III maale. Samas on väidetud, et kuningas ise oma maale ei meenutanud. Viimaks sai määravaks muidugi DNA analüüs. Eelmisel semestril õppisime, et vanadelt proovidelt on parimaks võimaluseks saada mtDNA-d ehk siis mitokondriaalset DNA-d. Seda tehnikat kasutati näiteks ka Romanovide tuvastamisel. Raamatu abil sain seega õpitud teadmisi üle korrata ja kinnistada.
Lugu ei lõppenudki sellega, et luud üles leiti ning nende omanik kindlaks tehti. Pärast seda läks lahti uus sõda, et selgitada välja, kuhu kuningas ümber tuleks matta. Mitmed osapooled tundsid, et neil on õigus see otsus teha. Näiteks ilmus välja inimesi, kes väitsid, et on kuninga sugulased. See osa raamatust üllatas mind eriti. Mõttetute vaidluste lõpuks jäi kehtima muidugi algne plaan ja Richard III puhkab Leicesteris edasi. Muidugi tekkis nüüd soov minna ise kogu seda sündmuspaika vaatama.
Veel üks uus huvitav teadmine, mida raamat pakkus, oli see, et arheoloogidele ei meeldi tegelikult inimsäilmetega tegelda, sest esiteks on nende väljakaevamiseks vaja taodelda luba, mis suurendab kulutusi ja nõuab lisaaega. Teiseks on emotsionaalne pool, sest luudega tegelemine paneb tahes-tahtmata surmale mõtlema.
Mulle meeldis "Kuningas asfaldi all. Kuidas arheoloogid leidsid Richard III" väga, sest mind huvitas teaduslik taust ning uuringud, mida luudega tehti. Luude leidmise lugu oli kirja pandud kaasahaaravas stiilis. Minul oli igatahes põnev lugeda ning uusi teadmisi sain ka kuhjaga. Kogu lugu oli väga uskumatu. Soovitan väga lugeda, kui arheoloogia huvi pakub!
vrh10298's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I admire the team who dedicated so much to recover this king. No matter the feelings towards Richard the third he was a king and he deserved a kingly resting place. He was a great warrior no matter what faults he had. I think he has been unjustly given a villainous persona. He was a king and all kings before him demonstrated strong actions. I am glad he has been found by dedicated people who wanted him found and honored. Many scholars believe Richards reputation was Tudor propaganda. The Tudor’s made him a villain worse than he actually was. He lived in a turbulent violent time. The Tudor kings executed many people but Richard is remembered as a villainous king. This is a debate that will go on and on. The dna testing and facial reconstruction is fascinating. A great read on all
Aspects of finding the church and Richard.
Aspects of finding the church and Richard.
wanserjc's review against another edition
2.0
The basic information is there, but it's too tangled up in the author's silly foreshadowing and pseudo-mystery-style writing. I was looking for something a bit more scholarly
gatun's review against another edition
3.0
The chapters that contained technical information concerning the autopsy or the actual dig were good. The chapters about the people involved were weak. The way the author writes about Phillipa Langley makes her sounds like she is delusional. Just not that great of a book.