After Richard III, archaeologists hope to find grave of Alfred the Great

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/feb/05/richard-iii-archaeologists-alfred-great


A statue of Alfred the Great in Winchester, Hampshire. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian

The next great mystery of where a king is buried could be solved as archaeologists try to find the grave of Alfred the Great.

An application has been made to exhume and study bones believed to lie in an unmarked grave at St Bartholomew's church in Winchester, Hampshire, to find out if they are the legendary Saxon king, who is said to have burned the cakes and defeated the Danes.

It is thought the grave may hold the bones of Alfred after a possible earlier burial of the king under the nearby ruined Hyde Abbey was dug up in the 19th century.

The next dig comes after the remains of Richard III were found under a car park in Leicester.

[dipsydoodle]

1. I think they want to beat Richard III's current record

[xchrom]

2. Oooh that's nice! Nt

[hughee99]

7. Very nice! I was going to suggest Jesus,

but people are always claiming they found him.

[William769]

3. kick & recommended.

[eShirl]

4. Hell, I've burned cakes and demolished plenty danishes in my day.

[xchrom]

5. i bet you have

[surrealAmerican]

6. kicking, because ...

... I can't remember the last time we had a good King Alfred thread around here.

[xchrom]

8. not nearly often enough, i'll tell you that. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Amazingly, I had reason to bring him up on another political forum yesterday

for a completely valid, but unconnected reason - someone had posted a photo of the same statue (it's in Winchester, which I live near to), and had claimed it was a heathen Viking.

[hootinholler]

9. I hope they don't find the bat cave n/t

[whistler162]

10. I am waiting for then to find the grave of....

Alfred E. Newman now that would be historic!