Digging Up Britain's Past

Soil, skeletons & a forgotten palace - a dramatic history of Britain

Documentary series. Follow archaeologists as they explore Britain's dramatic history through the soil, unearthing a skeleton-filled monastery and a forgotten royal palace.

digging-up-britains-past

Lindisfarne reveals the secrets of Viking burial grounds.

Viking Invasion

Helen Skelton and Alex Langlands head to Lindisfarne and the Isle of Man to uncover the secrets of Viking burial grounds.

For centuries, the location of Elsyng Palace was unknown.

Henry VIII

Elsyng Palace was one of nearly 60 royal residences owned by Henry Vlll. Helen Skelton and Alex Langlands join a new dig which is unearthing more clues to Henry's life and times.

Once thought a Roman temple, Stonehenge is really much older.

Stonehenge

Alex Langlands investigations the unique properties of the stones that make up the monument, while Helen Skelton visits the nearby village where its builders lived.

A recent dig found evidence of the King's lavish lifestyle.

Robin Hood & King John

Although Robin is probably a mythical character, there are strong reasons why the King stirred widespread resentment among ordinary people.

S1, E5. Secrets of the Thousand Skeletons

A mass burial site reveals life during the Black Death.

Secrets of the Thousand Skeletons

A site on the Welsh border containing almost 1,000 skeletons reveals secrets about life during the Black Death, including signs of medieval battle.

Shedding more light on the Pendle Witch trials of 1612.

Witches

Can a site on the Lancashire-Yorkshire border shed more light on the Pendle Witch trials of 1612?

Why did Rome's infamous emperor Nero stamp his mark on Silchester?

The Lost Roman Town

Silchester is one of the best preserved Roman sites in Britain. Why did Rome's infamous emperor Nero stamp his mark on the town?

This vessel transformed our navy and taught it about organisation and ship design.

The Royal Navy's Greatest Ship

When Nelson defeated Napoleon in his magnificent HMS Victory, he owed much of his success to another ship - HMS Invincible.

A team of archaeologists descend on County Durham.

Game of Thrones

Stories of a group of power-hungry bishops living some 700 years ago give the feuding factions of Game of Thrones a run for their money. A team of archaeologists descend on County Durham to learn more.

The team search for artefacts from the Bridgewater Canal.

Bridgewater

The team search for artefacts from the country's first superhighway - the Bridgewater Canal.

Historians and veterans join forces to unearth stories behind a garrison's stables.

War Horse

Historians and veterans join forces to unearth the stories behind a Yorkshire garrison's stables. Plus, the horse the Germans could not kill.

500 hundred years later, a team of archaeologists hunt for a lost spectacular garden.

Digging Up Britain's Past

Digging Up Britain's Past

Series 1

1. Viking Invasion

2. Henry VIII

3. Stonehenge

4. Robin Hood & King John

5. Secrets of the Thousand Skeletons

6. Witches