The Battle of Towton in North Yorkshire, fought during the Wars  of the Roses, was reputedly the bloodiest battle ever seen on  English soil. In 1996 a mass grave of soldiers was discovered  there by chance. This was the catalyst for a multi-disciplinary  research project, still unique in Britain ten years after the  initial discovery, which included a study of the skeletal  remains, the battlefield landscape, the historical evidence and  contemporary arms and armour. The discoveries were dramatic and  moving; the individuals had clearly suffered traumatic deaths and  subsequent research highlighted the often multiple wounds each  individual had received before and, in some cases, after they had  died. As well as the exciting forensic work the project also  revealed much about medieval weaponry and fighting.

 

Blood Red  Roses contains all the information about this fascinating  discovery, as well as discussing its wider historical, heritage  and archaeological implications. The second edition features new  chapters by a re-enactor and a history teacher, which apply the  research from the initial study to produce a veritable 'living  history'.