'Mysterious coffin' found close to Richard III's grave

The coffin was discovered at the car park excavation site where Richard III's remains were found. Credit: University of Leicester

A mysterious coffin found close to the site of King Richard III's grave has been opened and studied by experts from the University of Leicester.

Archaeologists found the skeleton of an elderly woman inside.

The coffin was discovered during a second excavation of the former car park site in the city.

It was discovered inside a much larger limestone sarcophagus during a second excavation of the site, in August 2013 - one year after the remains of the former King of England were unearthed.

Richard III will be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral this month after his mortal remains are taken from the University of Leicester on Sunday 22 March.

Inside the lead coffin, archaeologists found the skeleton of an elderly woman, who academics believe could have been an early benefactor of the friary - as radiocarbon dating shows she might have been buried not long after the church was completed in 1250.

The high status female was in one of 10 graves discovered in the grounds of the medieval complex, including that of Richard III, six of which were left undisturbed. Those that were examined were all found to have female remains.