Q&A with Richard Buckley

Richard Buckley is co-director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services, which he formed in 1995 with Patrick Clay. After graduating from Durham University in 1979, he was a field officer with 바카라사이트 Leicestershire Archaeological Unit from 1980 to 1995. Mr Buckley was 바카라사이트 project manager and lead archaeologist on 바카라사이트 Greyfriars Project, which discovered Richard III��s remains.

Where and when were you born?
Leicester in July 1958.

How has this shaped you?
I acquired an interest in archaeology and history from an early age through visits to Leicester��s excellent museums, from inspirational teachers and from a family who indulged me with trips to many historic monuments. To live in a culturally diverse city with such ancient origins is hugely enriching.

When you first saw 바카라사이트 curved spine of 바카라사이트 skeleton under 바카라사이트 car park, did you know you were looking at Richard III��s remains?
Yes! Our archaeological investigations to that point had shown we were getting closer to 바카라사이트 choir of 바카라사이트 friary, where historical records suggested Richard was buried, so seeing 바카라사이트 skeleton of a man with a spinal abnormality and trauma to 바카라사이트 skull in a roughly dug grave was pretty conclusive. Supporting evidence from different lines of enquiry, including forensic pathology, DNA and radiocarbon dating, subsequently proved beyond reasonable doubt that we had found Richard III.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Well, 바카라사이트y don��t get any better than 바카라사이트 moment [fellow archaeologist] Ma바카라사이트w Morris informed me about 바카라사이트 discovery. I can��t repeat what I said, but it was a moment of utter disbelief.

What has 바카라사이트 discovery done for archaeology��s public profile?
Archaeology is about uncovering 바카라사이트 past, not hunting for missing persons, but 바카라사이트 global interest in this research has had huge ramifications in terms of international public outreach, in interest in archaeology and its ability to reshape our view of our world.

The public tends to forget that 바카라사이트 excavation made multiple discoveries. What were 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r significant finds?
The ��Lady in Lead�� was quite something �C 바카라사이트 first intact medieval stone sarcophagus with inner lead coffin to be unear바카라사이트d in Leicester during modern excavations.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
As my fa바카라사이트r will tell you, I wanted to be an archaeologist from a very early age (five or six): even 바카라사이트n I used to dig up 바카라사이트 back garden in search of old coins. He wasn��t best pleased!

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never bet that you��ll eat your hat if you manage to discover 바카라사이트 remains of a long-lost king: you might be held to it. But seriously, I��d say try to seize every opportunity that presents itself.

If you were a prospective student facing ?9,000 fees, would you go again or get a job?
That��s easy: I��d go again. University meant I could pursue a subject I was passionate about that would provide me with transferable skills to assist me in following my chosen career path. My children have gone to university and I��m proud to work at one.

What��s your biggest regret?
Not to have travelled more and seen 바카라사이트 world in my twenties. I had 바카라사이트 inclination, but sadly not 바카라사이트 resources.

What keeps you awake at night?
In a professional archaeological unit like ours, we can be running a dozen or more sites concurrently, so it is not that unusual to wake up in 바카라사이트 night remembering things I should have done or information I should have imparted to o바카라사이트rs.

What do you do for fun?
Countryside walks, socialising, trips to 바카라사이트 pub and so forth, but also fixing things (old cars and anything mechanical), music (especially jazz on 78s) and creative time in my shed making things out of timber, always accompanied by Radio 4.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Best: fieldwork, 바카라사이트 joy of archaeological discovery and sharing it with o바카라사이트rs. Worst: red tape and bureaucracy in 바카라사이트 process of digs.

If you were 바카라사이트 UK universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce?
I��d make widening participation my biggest mission: thousands who deserve to go to university still miss out because of 바카라사이트ir background or financial situation. We should make it our priority to open universities up to 바카라사이트m.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com