King Richard III Supposedly Buried Under A Parking Lot: Will His Remains Be Found?

Archeologists believe that King Richard III may be buried under a parking lot, MSNBC reported.

King Richard III of England became infamous when he was memorialized in a William Shakespeare play aptly named after him, "King Richard III." The king died on August 22, 1485 and now archaeologists are searching for the medieval king's final resting place.

"This archaeological work offers a golden opportunity to learn more about medieval Leicester as well as about Richard III's last resting place - and, if he is found, to re-inter his remains with proper solemnity in Leicester Cathedral," Philippa Langley, a Richard III Society member, said in a statement.

The University of Leicester, Leicester City Council and the Richard III Society are all working together to find King Richard III's physical resting place by using radar that penetrates the ground so they can find the ideal place to dig for the late king, MSNBC said.

Despite the fame that he gained from being immortalized in a Shakespearean play, he was also talked about in his own right.

"Richard III is a charismatic figure who attracts tremendous interest, partly because he has been so much maligned in past centuries, and partly because he occupies a pivotal place in English history," Langley said.

"The continuing interest in Richard means that many fables have grown up around his grave." Langley added that one of the fables say some of the king's bones were tossed into the river Soar. [ The Science of Death: 10 Tales from the Crypt ]

"Other fables, equally discredited, claimed that his coffin was used as a horse-trough," Langley said.

When he died in 1485 his body was taken to Leicester, according to MSNBC. The king was buried in the church of the Franciscan Friary, which is also known as the Greyfriars, however its location has been lost over time.

"The big question for us is determining the whereabouts of the church on the site and also where in the church the body was buried," University of Leicester archaeologist Richard Buckley said in a statement.

"Although in many ways finding the remains of the king is a long-shot, it is a challenge we shall undertake enthusiastically. There is certainly potential for the discovery of burials within the area, based on previous discoveries and the postulated position of the church."

A search is expected to begin on August 25 and if any body parts are found they will be taken to the University of Leicester for DNA analysis, MSNBC reported.