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Archaeologists from the University of Leicester have revealed that they believe that they have discovered the former King Richard III underneath a parking lot. They say that they have conclusive evidence that the skeleton belongs to the former king, which was buried unceremoniously in a grave too small for the body, without a coffin or a shroud. However, the unveiling has led to a contentious debate in scientific circles, as fellow archaeologists wonder why the discovery would be announced without being published first in a peer-reviewed journal.

Researchers say that a wealth of evidence falls in line with contemporary accounts of the king's life and death. Radiocarbon dating indicated that the man had a high-protein diet, indicative of high status at the time, and that the man died during the end of the 15^th century or beginning of the 16^th century. King Richard III died in 1485.

Close examination of the skeleton also revealed an extremely slight, almost feminine build; severe scoliosis; trauma to the back of the head, including the fact that the back of the skull had been chopped off; and that it belonged to a man in his late 20s or early 30s. Those facts all align with accounts of the king; the king reportedly died at the age of 32 from a blow to the back of his head in a fight from the decade-long War of the Roses. DNA from living relatives, including Michael Ibsen, a Canadian-born furniture maker who counts Richard III's older sister as one of his ancestors, linked the skeleton to the throne.

However, some scientists are bemused at the university's handling of the find. The study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, though the university says that is forthcoming. Ross Barnett, from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, said to Science magazine, "There may be more data. There probably is. But what was presented of the DNA work falls far short...I think that sexy research like this is definitely deserving of a press conference, but my preference would have been for this to have occurred in tandem with publication of a peer-reviewed paper so that interested professionals and amateurs alike could instantly check up on what was being reported."

The king received a bad rap after his death, being cast as a villain. Most famously, the king was portrayed as a villain in a famous Shakespearean piece, killing two nephews before dying in battle, crying, "My kingdom for a horse!" However, Philippa Langley, from the Richard III Society and the person who launched the search, says that characterizations of the king have been overblown, written by detractors from the Tudor family, the dynasty that succeeded him.

"A wind of change is blowing, one that will seek out the truth about the real Richard III," Langley said to the Associated Press.