Posted on 07/30/2013 7:51:37 PM PDT by NYer
(CNN) -- First came the dramatic discovery of the long-lost remains of King Richard III.
Now, there's the mystery of the coffin within the coffin.
Archaeologists working at the site in central England where Richard III's body was found underneath a parking lot are currently puzzling over a sealed lead coffin containing the remains of a yet-to-be-identified person.
The lead coffin was found encased in a larger stone coffin.
The smaller coffin is intact "except for a hole at one end of the casket through which we could tantalizingly see someone's feet," said Mathew Morris, the fieldwork director at the site.
New discovery just as exciting
Last year, archaeologists unearthed a body buried beneath a nondescript parking lot in the city of Leicester. In February, they confirmed the body was that of Richard III, the last king of England to die on the battlefield.
The news drew global attention and set off a debate over Richard's bloodthirsty reputation.
Archaeologists from the University of Leicester, who have been toiling away at the site this summer, say the discovery of the double coffin is just as exciting.
They only uncovered the lead coffin last week after eight people hauled the heavy lid off the stone coffin. But figuring out who's inside looks set to be a much tougher task.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Ping!
Otherwise known as the ‘dead man trick’.
Lead lined coffin? That’s for a radiation contaminated body, ain’t it?
He’s not dead, its just a flesh wound..
Now open the lead coffin ya pansies!
Jimmy Hoffa found at last!
I only have questions. Is this common or tradition or superstition or something else? Who or what do you need to seal in like that? Why? Some kind of an honor or to make sure it doesn’t get out? Any legends or myths from around that time? Is it Jimmy Hoffa?
You ask so many questions
what answers should I choose?
is the plain old heebie-jeebies
or just existential blues?
Not in the 13th or 14th century. Lead coffins were often used for people of importance, wealth, and/or nobility.
Tough call...I’ll take “heebie-jeebies” for $200, Alex.
A case of heebie jeebies arrived today alack!
I wish I knew who sent it ‘cause I’d love to send it back.
Beastly Rhymes
By Jack Hanrahan
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