Mike Pitts
@pittsmike.bsky.social
Award-winning writer/broadcaster
Editor British Archaeology magazine 2003–23
Editor Society of Antiquaries of London e-newsletter 2015–20
President Sussex Archaeological Society https://mikepitts.wordpress.com/
Editor British Archaeology magazine 2003–23
Editor Society of Antiquaries of London e-newsletter 2015–20
President Sussex Archaeological Society https://mikepitts.wordpress.com/
Which is where the excavation would’ve been if the private owner had allowed it. One piece of luck after another
November 7, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Which is where the excavation would’ve been if the private owner had allowed it. One piece of luck after another
As I explain in my book, i think with the excavation & public arguments about reburial Philippa felt she lost control of her king (the film shows them in a close personal relationship, not unfair) + her goal of showing how everyone got Richard III wrong went a bit Pete Tong with the scoliosis
November 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM
As I explain in my book, i think with the excavation & public arguments about reburial Philippa felt she lost control of her king (the film shows them in a close personal relationship, not unfair) + her goal of showing how everyone got Richard III wrong went a bit Pete Tong with the scoliosis
One of the first of many surprises came with the WSI, which showed that the grave might well have survived at the suspected location
November 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
One of the first of many surprises came with the WSI, which showed that the grave might well have survived at the suspected location
It looks to me as if Coogan – I've had no contact with him or anyone involved with the film other than PR – has taken Langley's telling as a reliable version of events (thus no need to ask anyone else), which was something Langley herself was, shall we say, sometimes a little confused about
November 1, 2025 at 12:08 PM
It looks to me as if Coogan – I've had no contact with him or anyone involved with the film other than PR – has taken Langley's telling as a reliable version of events (thus no need to ask anyone else), which was something Langley herself was, shall we say, sometimes a little confused about
Thanks, I will look that up (can you scan me the relevant text?). The ULAS case was that there were too many cables, disturbances etc near the surface, which is what they had experienced elsewhere in the city & is what in the event was the problem
November 1, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Thanks, I will look that up (can you scan me the relevant text?). The ULAS case was that there were too many cables, disturbances etc near the surface, which is what they had experienced elsewhere in the city & is what in the event was the problem
2 Discussion at the Francis Crick Institute, Tom Booth on the gifts of archaeology & Adam Rutherford the abuses of historic politics, from 28.40 minutes 3/3
lnk.to/aqosancientdna
lnk.to/aqosancientdna
Who are our ancestors and why does it matter?
Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are talking all things ancient DNA.
Over the past 50 years, new technology has allowed researchers to sequence and study centuries-old DNA taken from ancien...
lnk.to
October 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
2 Discussion at the Francis Crick Institute, Tom Booth on the gifts of archaeology & Adam Rutherford the abuses of historic politics, from 28.40 minutes 3/3
lnk.to/aqosancientdna
lnk.to/aqosancientdna
1 From editor @rakshadigs.bsky.social great overview feature in British Archaeology, by Charlotte Roberts, Trish Biers, Kirsty Squires & Jackie McKinley: we should be talking more about ethics 2/3
reader.exacteditions.com/issues/14422...
reader.exacteditions.com/issues/14422...
reader.exacteditions.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
1 From editor @rakshadigs.bsky.social great overview feature in British Archaeology, by Charlotte Roberts, Trish Biers, Kirsty Squires & Jackie McKinley: we should be talking more about ethics 2/3
reader.exacteditions.com/issues/14422...
reader.exacteditions.com/issues/14422...
The grave's correct location had been proposed before, here by David Baldwin in 1986. John Ashdown Hill played a key role in convincing Philippa & archaeologists that, if found, remains could be identified as the king's. The film glosses over that, but sadly John is not here to put his case 15/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The grave's correct location had been proposed before, here by David Baldwin in 1986. John Ashdown Hill played a key role in convincing Philippa & archaeologists that, if found, remains could be identified as the king's. The film glosses over that, but sadly John is not here to put his case 15/15
My own book here
The real story, with twists of luck, coincidence, conventions to be broken & colourful characters, backgrounded by the Wars of the Roses & one of Shakespeare’s most popular dramas, is more compelling, surprising & amusing than the film 14/15
www.amazon.co.uk/Digging-Rich...
The real story, with twists of luck, coincidence, conventions to be broken & colourful characters, backgrounded by the Wars of the Roses & one of Shakespeare’s most popular dramas, is more compelling, surprising & amusing than the film 14/15
www.amazon.co.uk/Digging-Rich...
Digging for Richard III: The Search for the Lost King
Buy Digging for Richard III: The Search for the Lost King Revised and expanded edition by Pitts, Mike (ISBN: 9780500292020) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
My own book here
The real story, with twists of luck, coincidence, conventions to be broken & colourful characters, backgrounded by the Wars of the Roses & one of Shakespeare’s most popular dramas, is more compelling, surprising & amusing than the film 14/15
www.amazon.co.uk/Digging-Rich...
The real story, with twists of luck, coincidence, conventions to be broken & colourful characters, backgrounded by the Wars of the Roses & one of Shakespeare’s most popular dramas, is more compelling, surprising & amusing than the film 14/15
www.amazon.co.uk/Digging-Rich...
Philippa Langley’s story here (among other works, this is a book that somehow escaped evil establishment claws in 2013) 13/15
www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Grave-...
www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Grave-...
The King's Grave: The Search for Richard III
Buy The King's Grave: The Search for Richard III by Langley, Philippa, Jones, Michael (ISBN: 9781848548930) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Philippa Langley’s story here (among other works, this is a book that somehow escaped evil establishment claws in 2013) 13/15
www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Grave-...
www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Grave-...
Steve Coogan’s story here 12/15
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
I won’t apologise for The Lost King – Leicester University’s treatment of Philippa Langley is a profound injustice | Steve Coogan
I was sued over my film that gave a voice to the committed ‘amateur’ whose pivotal role in the search for the remains of Richard III was drowned out by louder voices in academia
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Steve Coogan’s story here 12/15
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Contra the film, science is not a closed network of self-interested scroungers scared of being challenged, who try to block others. That is a Trumpian conspiracy that encourages the likes of anti-vaxxing & climate change denial. The Lost King is an anti-science myth 11/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Contra the film, science is not a closed network of self-interested scroungers scared of being challenged, who try to block others. That is a Trumpian conspiracy that encourages the likes of anti-vaxxing & climate change denial. The Lost King is an anti-science myth 11/15
I could go on. But what really matters is the film’s false portrayal of archaeology & science.
The Lost King jumps from discovery to reburial, bypassing years of collaborative academic research (& works to Leicester cathedral & a judicial review) as if none of that happened or mattered 10/15
The Lost King jumps from discovery to reburial, bypassing years of collaborative academic research (& works to Leicester cathedral & a judicial review) as if none of that happened or mattered 10/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I could go on. But what really matters is the film’s false portrayal of archaeology & science.
The Lost King jumps from discovery to reburial, bypassing years of collaborative academic research (& works to Leicester cathedral & a judicial review) as if none of that happened or mattered 10/15
The Lost King jumps from discovery to reburial, bypassing years of collaborative academic research (& works to Leicester cathedral & a judicial review) as if none of that happened or mattered 10/15
Langley lacked the university’s resources to put her side of the story: the film gave her the means?
During & after the dig she was a world media star, in the press, on TV, lecturing, selling books. If she didn’t like what others said, media listened – & she demanded changes behind the scenes 9/15
During & after the dig she was a world media star, in the press, on TV, lecturing, selling books. If she didn’t like what others said, media listened – & she demanded changes behind the scenes 9/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Langley lacked the university’s resources to put her side of the story: the film gave her the means?
During & after the dig she was a world media star, in the press, on TV, lecturing, selling books. If she didn’t like what others said, media listened – & she demanded changes behind the scenes 9/15
During & after the dig she was a world media star, in the press, on TV, lecturing, selling books. If she didn’t like what others said, media listened – & she demanded changes behind the scenes 9/15
Langley was “the client” (a key moment in the film)?
Philippa initiated the project & was in effect a consultant, one of several key team members. It was the University of Leicester’s excavation (professional expertise, most costs, permits, staff, strategy, legal & academic responsibilities) 8/15
Philippa initiated the project & was in effect a consultant, one of several key team members. It was the University of Leicester’s excavation (professional expertise, most costs, permits, staff, strategy, legal & academic responsibilities) 8/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Langley was “the client” (a key moment in the film)?
Philippa initiated the project & was in effect a consultant, one of several key team members. It was the University of Leicester’s excavation (professional expertise, most costs, permits, staff, strategy, legal & academic responsibilities) 8/15
Philippa initiated the project & was in effect a consultant, one of several key team members. It was the University of Leicester’s excavation (professional expertise, most costs, permits, staff, strategy, legal & academic responsibilities) 8/15
… where that grave lay in the friary, suggesting from the location that it being the king’s was a possibility, occurred later, on the very day it was excavated. That was Mathew Morris’s unprompted decision, the field director 7/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
… where that grave lay in the friary, suggesting from the location that it being the king’s was a possibility, occurred later, on the very day it was excavated. That was Mathew Morris’s unprompted decision, the field director 7/15
Philippa insisted the grave be excavated against archaeologists’ wishes?
When first seen, there was no reason to call the bones the king’s, many other graves were expected. Excavation would’ve used limited funds for likely no result: the budget allowed for removing 6 burials. Finding exactly... 6/15
When first seen, there was no reason to call the bones the king’s, many other graves were expected. Excavation would’ve used limited funds for likely no result: the budget allowed for removing 6 burials. Finding exactly... 6/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Philippa insisted the grave be excavated against archaeologists’ wishes?
When first seen, there was no reason to call the bones the king’s, many other graves were expected. Excavation would’ve used limited funds for likely no result: the budget allowed for removing 6 burials. Finding exactly... 6/15
When first seen, there was no reason to call the bones the king’s, many other graves were expected. Excavation would’ve used limited funds for likely no result: the budget allowed for removing 6 burials. Finding exactly... 6/15
Langley put up all or most of the funds?
Contributions to the first dig: Langley & Richard III Society £18,083, Leicester University £19,935.
The uni also underwrote the project, funded research to prove the king’s ID, published peer-reviewed results, contributed to reburial costs, total £ms 5/16
Contributions to the first dig: Langley & Richard III Society £18,083, Leicester University £19,935.
The uni also underwrote the project, funded research to prove the king’s ID, published peer-reviewed results, contributed to reburial costs, total £ms 5/16
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Langley put up all or most of the funds?
Contributions to the first dig: Langley & Richard III Society £18,083, Leicester University £19,935.
The uni also underwrote the project, funded research to prove the king’s ID, published peer-reviewed results, contributed to reburial costs, total £ms 5/16
Contributions to the first dig: Langley & Richard III Society £18,083, Leicester University £19,935.
The uni also underwrote the project, funded research to prove the king’s ID, published peer-reviewed results, contributed to reburial costs, total £ms 5/16
Langley raised funds to ensure the project survived?
Her insistence on a GPR survey, despite being advised that it would be no use (it was no use) cost money & lost a significant would-be sponsor at a critical time 4/15
Her insistence on a GPR survey, despite being advised that it would be no use (it was no use) cost money & lost a significant would-be sponsor at a critical time 4/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Langley raised funds to ensure the project survived?
Her insistence on a GPR survey, despite being advised that it would be no use (it was no use) cost money & lost a significant would-be sponsor at a critical time 4/15
Her insistence on a GPR survey, despite being advised that it would be no use (it was no use) cost money & lost a significant would-be sponsor at a critical time 4/15
And, I might add, I too am an amateur. I have directed an excavation in a World Heritage Site, led a research project inside the British Museum, & published peer-reviewed research. Archaeologists don’t always read my books, but they don’t stop me 3/15
October 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
And, I might add, I too am an amateur. I have directed an excavation in a World Heritage Site, led a research project inside the British Museum, & published peer-reviewed research. Archaeologists don’t always read my books, but they don’t stop me 3/15