Episodes
Sometimes archaeologists know there's a site worth digging but don't quite know where to find it! We join the search for the original city of Venice, otherwise known as Altinum, the tomb of King Herod and the lost naval ship: HMS Diana. Plus, in Backyard Archaeology Duncan Howitt-Marshall discovers a hidden message on an Egyptian coffin.
Published 08/17/09
We dive into the underwater traps at Lake Huron, explore the origins of hunting and play a tune on the world's oldest flute. Plus, in Backyard Archaeology Tom explores the depths of UCL's museum. Flute music kindly provided by W. Hein, University of Tbingen.
Published 07/16/09
2009 is The University of Cambridge's 800th birthday and what better way to celebrate than by digging an archaeological trench? We take a trip to the local Cambridgeshire village of Cottenham where volunteers with the Fen Edge Archaeology Group and the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) are digging up their gardens. Will they turn up a pile of Victorian bone china or some Anglo-Saxon pottery?
Published 06/22/09
We strip down the science of dating this month by taking a look at rehydroxylation. We unearth some of the oldest pottery in the world, find out why Minoan pottery was so fashion-conscious and discuss a very famous piece of fired clay: the Phaistos Disk. Plus, in Backyard Archaeology Tom takes a trip to Scandinavia to find out about modern-day Norwegians. Are they really all Vikings?
Published 06/17/09
Archaeology bared this month includes the 'long sleep' of human innovation, a technological accomplishment in the form of a 2000 year-old millefiori bowl and we explore the origins of iron metallurgy. Plus, ourBackyard Archaeologist finds out all about slag.
Published 05/18/09
This month we explore the mysterious anchors buried off the shores of Cyprus, the unusual burial practices in Malta and the highly decorative shipsheds of the Romans. Plus, in Backyard Archaeology Tom Birch explains the tell-tale signs of a Roman road, otherwise hidden in a field.
Published 04/17/09
This month we explore the archaeology of war. We explore the earliest-known domestication of horses, find out about an armed Elizabethan privateer ship and rediscover the egyptian tomb of Thutmoses III's seal-bearer, Amenhotep. Plus, in Backyard Archaeology we hear about the future of WWII pillboxes.
Published 03/17/09
The sins of the past are uncovered in this month's Naked Archaeology, including chemical warfare; consuming desires for chocolate and finding the hidden Greek brothels. We also explore how one of the early species of hominin, Australopithecus africanus, wasn't the greedy ape we once thought. Plus, in Backyard Archaeology we find out how the energy sources that power our homes and cars can affect maritime archaeology.
Published 02/18/09
The mitochondrial story of tzi, or the Tyrolean iceman, is unearthed in this month's Naked Archaeology. Also, how the Americas were populated and the study of zooarchaeology are under the trench-o-scope. Plus, Tom Birch takes us on a tour of the only hill in Cambridge in Backyard Archaeology.
Published 01/17/09
The tale of TB's earliest victims, the science of archaeology underwater and the first shamanic burial all go under the trowel in this month's Naked Archaeology. We also uncover where all the dirt comes from that buries the past, and in this month's Backyard Archaeology Irving Finkel takes us on a tour of the Babylon exhibition at the British Museum.
Published 12/17/08
Why cutting down a precious tree species brought the Nasca people to their knees, how Pompeii is receiving a makeover, a new source of Neanderthal flints unlocks the secrets of early inhabitants of Britain and a Peruvian irrigation system that can make your eyes water. Plus home-grown archaeology with the back-yard archaeologist Tom Birch who goes out on location with Time Team's Carenza Lewis.
Published 10/17/08