The University of Leicester started the second Greyfriars dig today as archaeologists go in search of a 600-year-old medieval knight.
The team which uncovered the remains of Richard III is back at the city council car park in New Street, in the city centre, to excavate tomb number two – that of a 14th century nobleman called Sir William Moton.
The four-week project will concentrate on the Grey Friars friary, specifically the church, where Richard III was unearthed almost a year ago.
The excavation will also provide the academics with more information about the church, and they will dig deeper than before to find evidence of how it was constructed and from what materials.
Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley said he was particularly looking forward to the work involving the tomb of Sir William – who was buried in the friary's church more than 100 years before Richard III. He said: "The first week will mainly involve machining, so it won't be that exciting. Then we're going mark to out the trenches and take a look at the church, which should be more interesting.
"But it's the third week I'm looking forward to, when we uncover the tomb."
Site manager Mathew Morris is back in charge of the site after leading the day-to-day logistics during the first Greyfriars dig.
He will instruct a team of about six people, and a few volunteers, during the month-long project.
"This will be slightly different because we know exactly what we're looking for this time," said Mathew. "We know the tomb is down there and we're able to plan a bit more."
Last week, workers started preparing for the project by removing a Victorian wall which stood over the buried church foundations.
Over the first few days of the dig, machines will scoop back and take away about 70cm of earth from a trench, measuring about 17mx20m.
By next week, workers should have installed a viewing platform for members of the public to go and see first-hand the work the archaeologists are doing.
Mathew said: "That was always the shame last time, that we couldn't include the public, considering the scale and magnitude of the dig. But the view platform should give people a great vantage point."
Sir William Moton was a knight believed to have been born in Peckleton, in the Hinckley and Bosworth district, and was buried in 1362 at the Grey Friars friary.
Archaeologists stumbled across his lead-lined coffin last August when searching for Richard III. However, the team had to cover it back up as they did not have the time or finances to focus on two excavations – and they were about to reveal one of the most remarkable finds of recent times.
