In May, as part of Dying Matters Awareness week, the DMU-LOROS Centre for Promotion of Excellence in Palliative Care held an event which explored how the discovery of the remains of Richard III can stimulate us to think about the ways we continue to have bonds with those that have gone before; what this means about us as humans and not just bones, and to think what legacy we ourselves may want to leave.
Some of the things we thought about were:
How did people approach death and mourning in the past?
Caring for the spirit: ancient bones, relics and re-interment
Our legacy and our bonds
What we can learn from Richard III?
You can see what the two archaeologists (Dr Karina Croucher, Bradford University and Professor Sarah Tarlow, Leicester University ), a social historian (Porfessor Kevin Schurer, Leicester University) and a Vicar (Rev Alison Adams, Leicester Cathedral) said in these YouTube clips and through Dr Krouchers blog.
We are planning to hold events with a similar theme next year. If you are interested please get in touch with Professor Christina Faull