A tiny silver badge of a boar has allowed scientists to finally pinpoint the precise spot where they believe Richard III was killed by Henry Tudor's troops, bringing an end to more than 500 years of feverish debate among archaeologists and academics.
The miniature emblem of the Plantagenet ruler was discovered by experts from the Battlefields Trust during exhaustive excavations of the Fenn Lane site of the Battle of Bosworth - part of a joint project aided by Leicestershire County Council, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The King was killed in the field in August 1485 during a bloody countryside battle. The boar was his personal symbol.
"The crucial archaeological evidence came from our systematic metal detecting survey," explained Trust archaeologist Dr Glenn Ford, who is convinced the evidence "proves exactly" where the battle took place.
"There may be relatively few finds from the battle, each of which has taken the team dozens of hours to locate, but several of the objects are amazing.
"The most important by far is the silver-gilt boar, which was Richard III's own badge, given in large numbers to his supporters. This one is special, because it was almost certainly worn by a knight in King Richard's own retinue who rode with the King to his death in his last desperate cavalry charge.
"It was found right next to the site of a small medieval marsh, and the King was killed when his horse became stuck in a mire."
A memorial plaque for the King still stands in the field, near Shenton in Leicestershire
Other revealing gems found at the scene include silver coins belonging to Charles the Bold of Burgundy, a silver-gilt badge found close to where the Duke of Norfolk met his demise, and the largest collection of round shot ever recorded on a Medieval battlefield in Europe.
"Today marks the end of the speculation and a new beginning for Bosworth Battlefield and our understanding of Medieval warfare," predicted Jon Humble, English Heritage Inspector of Ancient Monuments for the East Midlands.
"This is ample evidence that archaeology can tackle big questions and cases that went cold centuries ago – and still provide magnificent answers."
The finds will go on display as part of the new Battlefield Heritage Centre, which will include an outdoor trail and a redesigned exhibition gallery with hands-on exhibits.
Photos © Bill Sibley, geograph.org.uk
