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Before He Died, Richard III Lived Large
The Smithsonian ^ | 8-19-14 | Rachel Nuwer

Posted on 08/24/2014 10:48:27 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

Bone chemistry sheds light on the monarch's shifting diet throughout his brief life

Richard III was only 32 years old when he was struck down at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. But according to new research, the King of England at least enjoyed some good eating throughout his life—especially in the few years leading up to his death.

Scientists from the British Geological Survey and the University of Leicester analyzed Richard III's teeth, his femur and his ribs to see what they could reveal about the monarch's diet, Phys.org reports. They used isotope analysis to identify chemical signatures that correspond with certain foods and geographic locations.

His rib—which has the fastest renewal rate and therefore the most recent isotopic signature—showed that he led a pretty fancy lifestyle in the two to five years preceding his death. First of all, he drank. Since historical records showed that Richard had stayed in one place at the end of his life, the researchers attributed a change in the oxygen isotypes in his bones—usually a sign of geographical relocation—to drinking. They concluded, LiveScience writes, "that about a quarter of the oxygen deposited in Richard's bones came from wine."

And he ate well. After he became king, the scientists found, his diet changed significantly. Now he was eating freshwater fish and wild birds. If Richard III's banquets were anything like other medieval feasts researchers know about, Phys.org adds, then those festivities most likely included wild birds such as swans, cranes, herons and egrets.


TOPICS: Food; Health/Medicine; History; Science
KEYWORDS: ancientautopsies; bosworth; feasts; forensics; godsgravesglyphs; king; kingrichardiii; richardiii; royals
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Table service of a lady of quality

1 posted on 08/24/2014 10:48:27 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic; SunkenCiv

Feasting in antiquity ping.


2 posted on 08/24/2014 10:49:26 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

It’s good to be king.


3 posted on 08/24/2014 10:49:47 AM PDT by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Wow. He lived well when he was king? This news has come as quite a shock. I would have figured he’d eat nothing but Rahman noodle soup.


4 posted on 08/24/2014 10:53:47 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: Menehune56

Until you get hacked to death. ;-)


5 posted on 08/24/2014 10:54:57 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

People drank alcohol if they could because it was one of the only liquids that was “clean.”


6 posted on 08/24/2014 10:56:34 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Cowboy Bob

LOL


7 posted on 08/24/2014 11:02:18 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
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To: afraidfortherepublic; SunkenCiv

Fricasseed egret is to die for...


8 posted on 08/24/2014 11:15:11 AM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: afraidfortherepublic

That looks like my kitchen, with the dog following us around looking for table scraps. Besides wine, the medieval people also had beer and mead


9 posted on 08/24/2014 11:19:08 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: afraidfortherepublic
[   ] Good food.
[   ] Being English.

Pick one.

10 posted on 08/24/2014 11:20:00 AM PDT by Rodamala
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To: abb

They also ate roasted peacock with the feathers on. I have a recipe somewhere.


11 posted on 08/24/2014 11:21:15 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

This is semi-science. These are wild guesses to get some pop publicity and research grants. Scientists also like fame same as the Kardashians.

IOW take this with a grain of salt


12 posted on 08/24/2014 11:21:48 AM PDT by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
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Liberals Seek Utopia
Conservatives Know It's Serfdom

Click The Pic

Support FR

13 posted on 08/24/2014 11:27:16 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: abb
Fricasseed egret is to die for...

I have a recipe for that!

Fricasseed Egret

Get an egret
Fricassee it.
Serve.

14 posted on 08/24/2014 11:29:36 AM PDT by Focault's Pendulum (I live in NJ....' Nuff said!)
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To: Rodamala

LOL


15 posted on 08/24/2014 11:31:05 AM PDT by Jagdgewehr (It will take blood.)
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To: Focault's Pendulum

Now we have to figure out the proper wine to go with it.


16 posted on 08/24/2014 11:33:18 AM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: afraidfortherepublic

“But according to new research, the King of England at least enjoyed some good eating throughout his life—especially in the few years leading up to his death.”

Before we start eatin’ we go through a long service.
Cut the brisket, then you start servin’.
Pour out the ‘schevitz and start slicky slicky slurpin’.
Slow down for me. You eatin’ too fast.
My fingers keep drippin’.
It goes straight to my azz.

Keep the gefilte fish.
I can’t stand it,
it’s soggy.
Somethin’ I despise,
I feed it to the doggy.
-”So Kosher” by Eric Schwartz


17 posted on 08/24/2014 11:38:55 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

We seen the last of Good King Richard
Ring out the past his name lives on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to Good King John

-Steely Dan


18 posted on 08/24/2014 11:39:41 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: abb
Fricasseed egret is to die for...

I eat egret without regret.

19 posted on 08/24/2014 11:43:22 AM PDT by SIDENET
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To: afraidfortherepublic

It’s good to be King... The one thing he sure wasn’t doing while being the leader of his country and a great deal of what was then the free world, was golfing every day.


20 posted on 08/24/2014 11:52:57 AM PDT by jerod (Pro-Abortion Gun Control Freaks & Environmental Nuts who hated Capitalism? The Nazi's)
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