The bones of King Richard III may be going back to a tomb near Leicester, England, but curious tourists can still see the former monarch's skeleton at the newly built visitor's center... in 3-D printed form. Richard's unmarked grave, dug five centuries ago, was rediscovered by accident under a Leicester car park in September of 2012, and numerous controversies have emerged relating to the handling and eventual housing of the remains. In the meantime, millions have been poured into a nearby center commemorating Richard's life and death.
Among the exhibits is a 3-D printed skeleton that is a precise replica of the original, down to the damage sustained in the Battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard died (reportedly from a halberd strike during an attempt to kill the rebel leader, Henry Tudor). The real skeleton was carefully examined and scanned in order to determine not just his cause of death but also his health during life. Accordingly, the printed skeleton will also reflect the severe scoliosis from which he suffered. The King Richard III Visitor Centre is set to open this weekend.
IN-DEPTH
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— Devin Coldewey, NBC News
