Newbie question

My understanding is that Richard was on a ridge that was quite long
and to his left was a marsh/bog. The Stanleys were covering
Richard's right (but not on the ridge), Richard was in front on
horses and Northumberland was somewhat behind and to the left of
Richard.

Am I right?

Even if my directions are wrong, the site would have to have a fairly
long ridge for two armies to sit on above the battle site but not
quite long enough for the two complete armies. It would have an area
that would test as having been a water-based soil and some kind of
forested area where the Stanleys were.

So I would assume that soil tests would show a marsh/bog type soil at
a proper depth along with samples that included remains or seeds of
plants typical of that area.

Now ridges in the mountains of Colorado are very different things
than they are in Britain, but there would be rise above and slightly
to the side of the marsh.

Do I have the idea?

Where did they get rid of all the bodies? Shouldn't soil tests and
even foliage (as it did after the battle of Flander's field in WW 1)
show the sites of mass graves?

Just thoughts and questions.

Kris

Welcome to our group, Kris. Those are all good questions you have posed
about Richard's location at the Battle of Bosworth Field.



The problem with figuring this out seems to be that the battle was not well
documented (or maybe it was, but documents have not survived - or surfaced).



As you may know, there is an on-going archaeological survey (now in its 3rd
year) in the environs of the battlefield. Hopefully this will shed light on
how things actually occurred.



There were graves at Dadlington church but others have not been located.
Apparently there were no mass grave locations such as at Towton where great
mounds of bodies were found.

Perhaps the battle did not last all that long and after Richard's death,
people just left! Maybe they took their dead with them! Or maybe they are
yet to be found - although that has been farmland for a while now and I have
to think some plow would have turned over a body or two by now.



There is a year to go on this survey and apparently the "marsh" has been
located in Dadlington Parish. Have you read the Peter Foss book?



Until some definite proof is unearthed, this discussion will go on.



L.M.L.,

Janet