Experts analyze King Richard’s heart

The medieval king Richard the Lionheart, known for his courage as a military leader, was not killed by a poisoned arrow. This was among the findings of a team of forensic experts who analyzed the mummified heart of King Richard I. The remains of his heart, now gray-brown powder, were locked away and preserved in a small lead box, which was discovered in 1838 during an excavation. Dr Philippe Charlier, a forensic scientist in France, said they did microscopic examination, toxicological and pollen analyses. While they did not find arsenic or any other metals that were poisonous, the research team found pollen. This suggested his time of death at the end of April, May or the start of June, when grains from poplar and bellflowers are in bloom. King Richard’s heart also had traces of myrtle, daisy, mint, and possibly lime – which could have been used to give him an “odor of sanctity” that was “similar to Christ,” Charlier said.

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