Could England’s World Cup hopes be getting a supernatural boost? A historian claims he’s found the lost remains of King Alfred the Great, the legendary ruler who crushed the Vikings, just days before England faces Norway on the soccer field.
Researcher Graham Phillips, 72, says he’s tracked the bones to a parking lot in Winchester, Hampshire. That’s close to where the iconic monarch was originally buried, according to reports.
“I am 100 percent confident the car park site is where the bones were, and I’m confident they are there now,” Phillips told the Sun. He believes they’re about 60 feet from a marker that shows the spot of his burial.
The exact location will be revealed on the TV series Weird Britain, airing July 8 on Blaze TV. If confirmed, it would end Phillips’ 13-year search for one of the UK’s most important historical figures.
Born in 849, Alfred the Great is famous for defending Wessex against Viking invaders and helping unite England. He defeated Viking leader Guthrum at the Battle of Edington in 878, leading to the Danes converting to Christianity.
After his death in 899, Alfred’s remains were moved multiple times. He was first buried at Winchester Cathedral, then moved to Hyde Abbey in 1110. The abbey was destroyed in 1539 under Henry VIII’s orders.
In 1866, bones thought to be Alfred’s were dug up and reburied, but carbon dating later showed they were from 200 years after his death. Phillips kept searching.
A breakthrough came when he found an 1800 article at Cambridge University. It revealed that a prison built next to Hyde Abbey in 1788 turned Alfred’s gravesite into the warden’s garden. “I’m convinced the original bones were moved at that time,” Phillips said, adding that prisoners reportedly moved them.
Phillips hopes archaeologists can use ground-penetrating radar to check the site before digging. He also thinks the find could be a “good omen” for England’s World Cup match against Norway on July 11 in Miami.
“We may have finally found Alfred’s remains, so is this a sign we can win the World Cup?” he asked.
Could a parking lot hold the key to both history and victory?
