The New Murrey and Blue blog

It’s often interesting to see “lists” online. You know what I mean, the 10 Funniest, the 20 Worst etc. etc. Of course, the Worst only too often include poor old Richard III. Well, here’s a list of the seven greatest archaeological treasures found at construction sites (https://www.webuildvalue.com/en/infrastructure-news/7-archeological-treasures-discovered-in-construction-sites.html) and guess who features? Spot on!

The finding of Richard III’s remains can’t help but be in the list. How could it not be? The image above shows the site. What a wonderful occasion it was. Almost unbelievable. And yet it did happen, and now modern science has told us of so much more about him.

Today we are even able to hear and see an avatar of him “speaking” his known words. (https://murreyandblue.org/2024/11/19/richard-iiis-looks-and-voice/) Well, there’s bound to be some doubt about the avatar’s accuracy, but there’s also an awful lot about it that cannot help but be correct. I didn’t even know before that the shape of one’s skull dictated the timbre of our voice. I’m talking an average skull, not one that is severely deformed. So yes, the discovery of Richard’s skeleton was a truly astonishing event and well deserves to be among the seven in the list. In first place, if you ask me. But he’s third, as follows:-

“….The remains of King Richard III….King Richard III, who died at the age of 32 in the 1485 Battle of Bosworth against the Tudors, was finally laid to rest over 500 years after his death. In 2012, his remains were uncovered beneath a parking lot in Leicester. In 2015, he was reburied with a formal ceremony at Leicester Cathedral…..”

As for the other six, here they are:

“….A Viking-Era Ship….In 1903, Norwegian farmer Oskar Rom discovered a Viking-era ship while digging in an ancient burial mound on his property. Alongside the ship, archaeologists found the skeletal remains of two women, several animals, and various artifacts, including bedposts and a carriage. Today, the restored ship is displayed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo.

“….The York Helmet….In 1982, while constructing a shopping center in York, England, workers unearthed the York Helmet, an Anglo-Saxon relic from the 8th century. One of only three complete helmets from this period found in England, it showcases a remarkable blend of Anglo-Saxon and Irish craftsmanship. The helmet is now  displayed at the Yorkshire Museum.

“….A hidden masterpiece in Paris….In January 2019, workers renovating a Paris office into a luxury boutique uncovered a 17th-century oil [wall] painting hidden behind a wall. The artwork, dated 1674 and attributed to the renowned artist Arnould de Vuez, is believed to date back to the reign of Louis XIV. It depicts the Marquis de Nointel, the king’s ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, riding towards Jerusalem. Experts suggest the painting may have been concealed to protect it from Nazi looters during World War II.

“….The Bones of a Triceratops….In 2019, during construction work at a site in Highlands Ranch, south of Denver, workers made an extraordinary discovery: the partial skeleton of an adult Triceratops. The fossils, dating back 68 million years, were analyzed and identified by paleontologists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

“….17th-Century Silver Coins….In June 2020, during road renovation work in Poland, an exceptional treasure of 507 silver coins dating back to the 17th century was discovered. The collection includes coins from across Europe, featuring depictions of Charles X Gustav of Sweden and Frederick William I of Prussia.

“….A 12th-Century Islamic Bathhouse….In July 2022, renovations in a tapas bar in Seville, Spain, uncovered the site of a 12th-century Islamic bathhouse. Star-shaped skylights, resembling those found in the Arab Baths of Ronda, helped archaeologists confirm its origins as a preserved structure from the Almohad Caliphate era….”

But I’m preaching to the converted, am I not? So I guess there’s no need for me to repeat that Richard is far and away the most important of them all! 😄