Jo Appleby to speak at Family History Fair

One of the lead scientists on the team who correctly identified Richard III's skeletal remains after unearthing the 500 year old burial site last year, is coming to Auckland.

Dr Jo Appleby, an osteoarcheologist from the University of Leicester, will speak at the upcoming New Zealand Family History Fair about the project.

Her team at the University of Leicester solved the 500-year-old mystery around the monarch's remains. The King was killed in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field where his army was defeated.

The Fair, presented by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists and Ancestry.com.au, runs from August 2-4 at the Vodafone Events Centre, in Manukau, Auckland.

Dr Appleby was a key member of the team that employed a number of techniques to make the important discovery, including radiocarbon dating, bone analysis, radiological evidence, archeological results and historical records.

"Most significantly, by matching the DNA sequence of known modern day relatives of Richard III, including Canadian furniture maker Michael Ibsen, with DNA extracted from the bones found in the grave, the team at University of Leicester were able to confirm the identity of the King's skeleton beyond doubt" said Brad Argent of Ancestry.com.au.

Dr Appleby, who is being flown to New Zealand courtesy of The British Council, is one of the UK's leaders in the study of human remains from archaeological sites.

The New Zealand Family History Fair

The New Zealand Family History Fair, www.nzfamilyhistoryfair.org.nz, will be held from 2-4 August 2013 at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau. It is presented by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, New Zealand's largest family history organisation, and Ancestry.com.au.

The Fair is a celebration of our nation's culture and heritage, and the public is invited to come to listen to guest speakers, explore the many exhibitor stands and access key genealogy sources.

Entry to the Fair is free.