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1 | 00:00:19,333 | 00:00:21,609 | We might be a small island, | We might be a small island, |
2 | 00:00:21,633 | 00:00:24,243 | but we've got a big history. | but we've got a big history. |
3 | 00:00:24,267 | 00:00:25,443 | Everywhere you stand, | Everywhere you stand, |
4 | 00:00:25,467 | 00:00:28,009 | there are worlds beneath your feet. | there are worlds beneath your feet. |
5 | 00:00:28,033 | 00:00:29,443 | And so every year, | And so every year, |
6 | 00:00:29,467 | 00:00:32,176 | hundreds of archaeologists across Britain | hundreds of archaeologists across Britain |
7 | 00:00:32,200 | 00:00:34,209 | go looking for more clues. | go looking for more clues. |
8 | 00:00:34,233 | 00:00:37,509 | Who lived here, when, and how? | Who lived here, when, and how? |
9 | 00:00:37,533 | 00:00:39,843 | You can even see the architecture of the bone | You can even see the architecture of the bone |
10 | 00:00:39,867 | 00:00:41,709 | - inside the jaw there. - Yes. | - inside the jaw there. - Yes. |
11 | 00:00:41,733 | 00:00:45,276 | Archaeology is a complex jigsaw puzzle | Archaeology is a complex jigsaw puzzle |
12 | 00:00:45,300 | 00:00:49,176 | drawing together everything from skeletons to swords, | drawing together everything from skeletons to swords, |
13 | 00:00:49,200 | 00:00:52,043 | temples to treasure. | temples to treasure. |
14 | 00:00:52,067 | 00:00:53,727 | And it's still sharp. | And it's still sharp. |
15 | 00:00:55,467 | 00:00:59,843 | From Orkney to Devon, were joining this year's quest | From Orkney to Devon, were joining this year's quest |
16 | 00:00:59,867 | 00:01:03,043 | on sea, land, and air. | on sea, land, and air. |
17 | 00:01:03,067 | 00:01:05,376 | We'll share all of the questions | We'll share all of the questions |
18 | 00:01:05,400 | 00:01:07,509 | and find some of the answers | and find some of the answers |
19 | 00:01:07,533 | 00:01:10,409 | as we join the teams in the field | as we join the teams in the field |
20 | 00:01:10,433 | 00:01:12,733 | digging for Britain. | digging for Britain. |
21 | 00:01:16,767 | 00:01:18,709 | The further back in time we go, | The further back in time we go, |
22 | 00:01:18,733 | 00:01:22,676 | the more rare those glimpses of our ancestors become. | the more rare those glimpses of our ancestors become. |
23 | 00:01:22,700 | 00:01:26,076 | Tonight we're going into deep prehistory, | Tonight we're going into deep prehistory, |
24 | 00:01:26,100 | 00:01:30,276 | and this is where archaeology really comes into its own. | and this is where archaeology really comes into its own. |
25 | 00:01:30,300 | 00:01:33,509 | With no written records, those pieces of evidence | With no written records, those pieces of evidence |
26 | 00:01:33,533 | 00:01:37,576 | that we pull out of the ground are the only clues we have | that we pull out of the ground are the only clues we have |
27 | 00:01:37,600 | 00:01:41,970 | to the mysterious world of prehistoric Britain. | to the mysterious world of prehistoric Britain. |
28 | 00:01:46,567 | 00:01:50,143 | I'm on a journey through a million years of history | I'm on a journey through a million years of history |
29 | 00:01:50,167 | 00:01:54,109 | that will take me from Orkney to the south coast. | that will take me from Orkney to the south coast. |
30 | 00:01:54,133 | 00:01:57,743 | I'll be discovering art made by ice age Britons... | I'll be discovering art made by ice age Britons... |
31 | 00:01:57,767 | 00:01:59,843 | Is this a leg down here? Is it coming down to a leg? | Is this a leg down here? Is it coming down to a leg? |
32 | 00:01:59,867 | 00:02:01,727 | Yeah, that's right. The are legs here. | Yeah, that's right. The are legs here. |
33 | 00:02:03,367 | 00:02:06,609 | ...and seeing how farming first developed here. | ...and seeing how farming first developed here. |
34 | 00:02:06,633 | 00:02:08,076 | See some more teeth sticking up here. | See some more teeth sticking up here. |
35 | 00:02:08,100 | 00:02:09,100 | Yeah. | Yeah. |
36 | 00:02:10,367 | 00:02:13,643 | I'll be finding out how the sea holds clues | I'll be finding out how the sea holds clues |
37 | 00:02:13,667 | 00:02:17,109 | to the birth of trade. | to the birth of trade. |
38 | 00:02:17,133 | 00:02:20,209 | And as we travel through time, | And as we travel through time, |
39 | 00:02:20,233 | 00:02:24,676 | we'll see how a culture emerged that still resonates today. | we'll see how a culture emerged that still resonates today. |
40 | 00:02:24,700 | 00:02:27,070 | So, when was she found? | So, when was she found? |
41 | 00:02:29,433 | 00:02:33,509 | Our journey begins before Britain was even an island, | Our journey begins before Britain was even an island, |
42 | 00:02:33,533 | 00:02:36,576 | when a broad river flowed through East Anglia. | when a broad river flowed through East Anglia. |
43 | 00:02:36,600 | 00:02:38,609 | And this is where archaeologists | And this is where archaeologists |
44 | 00:02:38,633 | 00:02:40,176 | are trying to find out | are trying to find out |
45 | 00:02:40,200 | 00:02:43,943 | when the first people arrived in Britain. | when the first people arrived in Britain. |
46 | 00:02:43,967 | 00:02:45,876 | For over 200 years, | For over 200 years, |
47 | 00:02:45,900 | 00:02:48,176 | archaeologists have searched these lands | archaeologists have searched these lands |
48 | 00:02:48,200 | 00:02:51,043 | for signs that early human species | for signs that early human species |
49 | 00:02:51,067 | 00:02:52,809 | may once have lived here. | may once have lived here. |
50 | 00:02:52,833 | 00:02:54,209 | But the first humans | But the first humans |
51 | 00:02:54,233 | 00:02:56,876 | to have emerged from Africa were tropical. | to have emerged from Africa were tropical. |
52 | 00:02:56,900 | 00:02:59,676 | They just weren't adapted to cold climates, | They just weren't adapted to cold climates, |
53 | 00:02:59,700 | 00:03:03,400 | and they could not have survived in northern Europe. | and they could not have survived in northern Europe. |
54 | 00:03:06,200 | 00:03:08,409 | Now, on this beach in Norfolk, | Now, on this beach in Norfolk, |
55 | 00:03:08,433 | 00:03:11,143 | archaeologists are finding remarkable evidence | archaeologists are finding remarkable evidence |
56 | 00:03:11,167 | 00:03:13,676 | that may challenge this belief. | that may challenge this belief. |
57 | 00:03:13,700 | 00:03:15,909 | I've been following this project for years, | I've been following this project for years, |
58 | 00:03:15,933 | 00:03:17,243 | and the archaeologists are about | and the archaeologists are about |
59 | 00:03:17,267 | 00:03:18,576 | three weeks into this year's dig, | three weeks into this year's dig, |
60 | 00:03:18,600 | 00:03:21,243 | so I've been really excited about coming here | so I've been really excited about coming here |
61 | 00:03:21,267 | 00:03:23,797 | to find out how they've been getting on. | to find out how they've been getting on. |
62 | 00:03:25,800 | 00:03:27,443 | The team are part | The team are part |
63 | 00:03:27,467 | 00:03:29,776 | of an internationally renowned project | of an internationally renowned project |
64 | 00:03:29,800 | 00:03:33,076 | searching for clues that will help them date this site. | searching for clues that will help them date this site. |
65 | 00:03:33,100 | 00:03:35,309 | So, Nick, you're a few weeks in. | So, Nick, you're a few weeks in. |
66 | 00:03:35,333 | 00:03:37,376 | Nick Ashton of the British Museum | Nick Ashton of the British Museum |
67 | 00:03:37,400 | 00:03:39,643 | is leading the excavation. | is leading the excavation. |
68 | 00:03:39,667 | 00:03:41,343 | And what sort of evidence are you finding | And what sort of evidence are you finding |
69 | 00:03:41,367 | 00:03:43,643 | in these ancient river sediments? | in these ancient river sediments? |
70 | 00:03:43,667 | 00:03:45,909 | We're getting pollen from these fine-grained sediments. | We're getting pollen from these fine-grained sediments. |
71 | 00:03:45,933 | 00:03:47,176 | We're getting wood. | We're getting wood. |
72 | 00:03:47,200 | 00:03:49,443 | We're getting other plant remains, little seeds. | We're getting other plant remains, little seeds. |
73 | 00:03:49,467 | 00:03:51,309 | Ah, we're also getting beetles, | Ah, we're also getting beetles, |
74 | 00:03:51,333 | 00:03:53,276 | and they're very good for reconstructing climate. | and they're very good for reconstructing climate. |
75 | 00:03:53,300 | 00:03:56,509 | And on top of that, we're getting animal remains, | And on top of that, we're getting animal remains, |
76 | 00:03:56,533 | 00:03:58,343 | animal bones and teeth, | animal bones and teeth, |
77 | 00:03:58,367 | 00:04:01,676 | and they really help with the dating of the site. | and they really help with the dating of the site. |
78 | 00:04:01,700 | 00:04:03,309 | To retrieve that evidence, | To retrieve that evidence, |
79 | 00:04:03,333 | 00:04:07,409 | every bucketload excavated must be painstakingly examined. | every bucketload excavated must be painstakingly examined. |
80 | 00:04:07,433 | 00:04:10,643 | So it's all happening down here. | So it's all happening down here. |
81 | 00:04:10,667 | 00:04:13,043 | Ah. What have you got for us, Sophie? | Ah. What have you got for us, Sophie? |
82 | 00:04:13,067 | 00:04:14,443 | Nothing at the moment? | Nothing at the moment? |
83 | 00:04:14,467 | 00:04:15,809 | -Not much. | -Not much. |
84 | 00:04:15,833 | 00:04:19,043 | Do you want the sieve there? | Do you want the sieve there? |
85 | 00:04:19,067 | 00:04:21,376 | Oh, wow. Some pebbles. | Oh, wow. Some pebbles. |
86 | 00:04:21,400 | 00:04:22,843 | Some pebbles at the moment. | Some pebbles at the moment. |
87 | 00:04:22,867 | 00:04:25,209 | So each sieveload is checked and sorted. | So each sieveload is checked and sorted. |
88 | 00:04:25,233 | 00:04:27,776 | And there doesn't appear to be anything in that. | And there doesn't appear to be anything in that. |
89 | 00:04:27,800 | 00:04:29,643 | Over a five-year period, | Over a five-year period, |
90 | 00:04:29,667 | 00:04:32,876 | they've sifted through 70 tons of sediment. | they've sifted through 70 tons of sediment. |
91 | 00:04:32,900 | 00:04:35,909 | But sometimes it's the most unlikely finds | But sometimes it's the most unlikely finds |
92 | 00:04:35,933 | 00:04:38,776 | that provide vital clues. | that provide vital clues. |
93 | 00:04:38,800 | 00:04:41,243 | - Oh, no... pine cones. - Ah. | - Oh, no... pine cones. - Ah. |
94 | 00:04:41,267 | 00:04:42,576 | Oh, right. | Oh, right. |
95 | 00:04:42,600 | 00:04:44,576 | And there is quite a weathered | And there is quite a weathered |
96 | 00:04:44,600 | 00:04:47,070 | but surviving pine cone. | but surviving pine cone. |
97 | 00:04:48,267 | 00:04:50,076 | - Really? - A part of one, yeah. | - Really? - A part of one, yeah. |
98 | 00:04:50,100 | 00:04:51,376 | You could look at the structure of that | You could look at the structure of that |
99 | 00:04:51,400 | 00:04:53,530 | and confirm the exact species. | and confirm the exact species. |
100 | 00:04:55,200 | 00:04:57,643 | When you're looking this far back in time, | When you're looking this far back in time, |
101 | 00:04:57,667 | 00:05:02,943 | even a single find like this pine cone core is crucial. | even a single find like this pine cone core is crucial. |
102 | 00:05:02,967 | 00:05:05,076 | Find by find, the archaeologists | Find by find, the archaeologists |
103 | 00:05:05,100 | 00:05:08,509 | can reconstruct this mysterious lost world... | can reconstruct this mysterious lost world... |
104 | 00:05:08,533 | 00:05:10,543 | a pine forest that was inhabited | a pine forest that was inhabited |
105 | 00:05:10,567 | 00:05:13,567 | by creatures no longer seen in Britain. | by creatures no longer seen in Britain. |
106 | 00:05:14,567 | 00:05:17,443 | Simon Parfitt from the Natural History Museum | Simon Parfitt from the Natural History Museum |
107 | 00:05:17,467 | 00:05:21,476 | is an expert on prehistoric mammals. | is an expert on prehistoric mammals. |
108 | 00:05:21,500 | 00:05:23,043 | And what's that in that box down there? | And what's that in that box down there? |
109 | 00:05:23,067 | 00:05:25,809 | - Okay, this thing. - It looks like a stone. | - Okay, this thing. - It looks like a stone. |
110 | 00:05:25,833 | 00:05:28,609 | It looks like a stone. | It looks like a stone. |
111 | 00:05:28,633 | 00:05:30,743 | Believe it or not, it's a hyena dropping. | Believe it or not, it's a hyena dropping. |
112 | 00:05:30,767 | 00:05:32,509 | This is fossilized hyena poo. | This is fossilized hyena poo. |
113 | 00:05:32,533 | 00:05:34,276 | So we know there were hyena here as well. | So we know there were hyena here as well. |
114 | 00:05:34,300 | 00:05:38,276 | There were hyenas, so you've got large carnivores. | There were hyenas, so you've got large carnivores. |
115 | 00:05:38,300 | 00:05:41,176 | We've got this fantastic rodent jaw... | We've got this fantastic rodent jaw... |
116 | 00:05:41,200 | 00:05:43,043 | - That's beautiful. - ...with some of the teeth | - That's beautiful. - ...with some of the teeth |
117 | 00:05:43,067 | 00:05:45,643 | And this is an extinct beaverlike rodent, | And this is an extinct beaverlike rodent, |
118 | 00:05:45,667 | 00:05:49,143 | and it was semiaquatic, living along the banks of the river. | and it was semiaquatic, living along the banks of the river. |
119 | 00:05:49,167 | 00:05:51,843 | It's such a beautifully preserved fossil | It's such a beautifully preserved fossil |
120 | 00:05:51,867 | 00:05:55,443 | I mean, you can even see the architecture of the bone | I mean, you can even see the architecture of the bone |
121 | 00:05:55,467 | 00:05:56,676 | inside the jaw there. | inside the jaw there. |
122 | 00:05:56,700 | 00:05:58,670 | Yes, yeah. It's a wonderful thing. | Yes, yeah. It's a wonderful thing. |
123 | 00:06:00,333 | 00:06:04,476 | It's because we know when each of these species became extinct | It's because we know when each of these species became extinct |
124 | 00:06:04,500 | 00:06:08,776 | that these fossils are helping us to date the site. | that these fossils are helping us to date the site. |
125 | 00:06:08,800 | 00:06:11,476 | This is a tooth of a mammoth. | This is a tooth of a mammoth. |
126 | 00:06:11,500 | 00:06:14,243 | And this is in fact one of the earliest forms of mammoth | And this is in fact one of the earliest forms of mammoth |
127 | 00:06:14,267 | 00:06:16,209 | that we find in this part of the world. | that we find in this part of the world. |
128 | 00:06:16,233 | 00:06:19,176 | This helps us with the date because this is quite primitive. | This helps us with the date because this is quite primitive. |
129 | 00:06:19,200 | 00:06:20,776 | So we have a fantastic record. | So we have a fantastic record. |
130 | 00:06:20,800 | 00:06:22,409 | And you can tell that from the teeth? | And you can tell that from the teeth? |
131 | 00:06:22,433 | 00:06:24,409 | That's right, yeah. It has very distinctive teeth. | That's right, yeah. It has very distinctive teeth. |
132 | 00:06:24,433 | 00:06:26,043 | You can see this is the chewing surface, | You can see this is the chewing surface, |
133 | 00:06:26,067 | 00:06:29,776 | and you have a series of plates, and they're very widely spaced. | and you have a series of plates, and they're very widely spaced. |
134 | 00:06:29,800 | 00:06:32,143 | And this is a feature of primitive mammoths. | And this is a feature of primitive mammoths. |
135 | 00:06:32,167 | 00:06:35,043 | Later mammoths, the plates tend to get closer together, | Later mammoths, the plates tend to get closer together, |
136 | 00:06:35,067 | 00:06:36,543 | the enamel gets thinner. | the enamel gets thinner. |
137 | 00:06:36,567 | 00:06:38,943 | So that's one of the features we can use to identify it. | So that's one of the features we can use to identify it. |
138 | 00:06:38,967 | 00:06:41,676 | This tooth belonged to a type of mammoth | This tooth belonged to a type of mammoth |
139 | 00:06:41,700 | 00:06:45,676 | that died out over 700,000 years ago, | that died out over 700,000 years ago, |
140 | 00:06:45,700 | 00:06:47,709 | so its position in these sediments | so its position in these sediments |
141 | 00:06:47,733 | 00:06:51,043 | gives another vital clue to the archaeologists. | gives another vital clue to the archaeologists. |
142 | 00:06:51,067 | 00:06:52,743 | With the various types of dating, | With the various types of dating, |
143 | 00:06:52,767 | 00:06:55,143 | we're able to say that the site dates | we're able to say that the site dates |
144 | 00:06:55,167 | 00:06:57,876 | somewhere between 800,000 and a million years old. | somewhere between 800,000 and a million years old. |
145 | 00:06:57,900 | 00:07:00,243 | So that's the date of those sediments | So that's the date of those sediments |
146 | 00:07:00,267 | 00:07:01,776 | that we were looking at in the trench, | that we were looking at in the trench, |
147 | 00:07:01,800 | 00:07:04,443 | between 800,000 and a million years old? | between 800,000 and a million years old? |
148 | 00:07:04,467 | 00:07:06,427 | - Yeah, yeah. - Fantastic. | - Yeah, yeah. - Fantastic. |
149 | 00:07:10,667 | 00:07:12,809 | This project really is unique. | This project really is unique. |
150 | 00:07:12,833 | 00:07:16,876 | So many important discoveries are made by pure chance, | So many important discoveries are made by pure chance, |
151 | 00:07:16,900 | 00:07:18,943 | especially in prehistory, | especially in prehistory, |
152 | 00:07:18,967 | 00:07:21,143 | where something might be found in a quarry | where something might be found in a quarry |
153 | 00:07:21,167 | 00:07:23,409 | or when a road is being built. | or when a road is being built. |
154 | 00:07:23,433 | 00:07:28,576 | But here the archaeologists have set out to find something new | But here the archaeologists have set out to find something new |
155 | 00:07:28,600 | 00:07:32,509 | to make an important discovery, and they've done it. | to make an important discovery, and they've done it. |
156 | 00:07:32,533 | 00:07:35,243 | Because what's being found here | Because what's being found here |
157 | 00:07:35,267 | 00:07:38,127 | are not just animal and plant finds. | are not just animal and plant finds. |
158 | 00:07:40,333 | 00:07:43,176 | It's not just evidence of a vanished landscape | It's not just evidence of a vanished landscape |
159 | 00:07:43,200 | 00:07:46,443 | from perhaps a million years ago. | from perhaps a million years ago. |
160 | 00:07:46,467 | 00:07:49,043 | There are finds suggesting | There are finds suggesting |
161 | 00:07:49,067 | 00:07:52,909 | humans could have lived here then too. | humans could have lived here then too. |
162 | 00:07:52,933 | 00:07:57,643 | Actually today we recovered one of the rare artifacts | Actually today we recovered one of the rare artifacts |
163 | 00:07:57,667 | 00:07:59,443 | that we're also getting from the site, | that we're also getting from the site, |
164 | 00:07:59,467 | 00:08:01,209 | and this is really exciting | and this is really exciting |
165 | 00:08:01,233 | 00:08:05,209 | because it shows that humans were living here at that time. | because it shows that humans were living here at that time. |
166 | 00:08:05,233 | 00:08:06,476 | This has just come out today. | This has just come out today. |
167 | 00:08:06,500 | 00:08:07,743 | This is a small flake. | This is a small flake. |
168 | 00:08:07,767 | 00:08:10,143 | It's slightly broken, but you can see | It's slightly broken, but you can see |
169 | 00:08:10,167 | 00:08:13,876 | all the telltale signs of human manufacture. | all the telltale signs of human manufacture. |
170 | 00:08:13,900 | 00:08:16,376 | This tiny object is a waste flake | This tiny object is a waste flake |
171 | 00:08:16,400 | 00:08:19,743 | left over from making flint tools. | left over from making flint tools. |
172 | 00:08:19,767 | 00:08:24,043 | So this is evidence of humans in Britain | So this is evidence of humans in Britain |
173 | 00:08:24,067 | 00:08:26,043 | going back possibly a million years | going back possibly a million years |
174 | 00:08:26,067 | 00:08:28,509 | Yeah, and so it makes it, by a long way, | Yeah, and so it makes it, by a long way, |
175 | 00:08:28,533 | 00:08:30,209 | the oldest site in northern Europe. | the oldest site in northern Europe. |
176 | 00:08:30,233 | 00:08:32,876 | The oldest human site in northern Europe. | The oldest human site in northern Europe. |
177 | 00:08:32,900 | 00:08:36,276 | So I'm holding in my hands a piece of evidence | So I'm holding in my hands a piece of evidence |
178 | 00:08:36,300 | 00:08:38,543 | of the earliest humans to inhabit this island | of the earliest humans to inhabit this island |
179 | 00:08:38,567 | 00:08:41,597 | going back nearly a million years. | going back nearly a million years. |
180 | 00:08:48,200 | 00:08:51,343 | They have found over 70 pieces of flint | They have found over 70 pieces of flint |
181 | 00:08:51,367 | 00:08:54,767 | which show signs of human working. | which show signs of human working. |
182 | 00:08:57,067 | 00:09:02,167 | And amongst them are even some intact stone tools. | And amongst them are even some intact stone tools. |
183 | 00:09:03,467 | 00:09:06,676 | This... We actually nicknamed this the "butter knife" | This... We actually nicknamed this the "butter knife" |
184 | 00:09:06,700 | 00:09:08,276 | because it's so pretty. | because it's so pretty. |
185 | 00:09:08,300 | 00:09:11,076 | But you can see all the evidence of human working there, | But you can see all the evidence of human working there, |
186 | 00:09:11,100 | 00:09:13,043 | that bulb of percussion rings coming out | that bulb of percussion rings coming out |
187 | 00:09:13,067 | 00:09:14,809 | from all that characteristic rippling. | from all that characteristic rippling. |
188 | 00:09:14,833 | 00:09:17,909 | And actually on this piece they've modified that edge. | And actually on this piece they've modified that edge. |
189 | 00:09:17,933 | 00:09:20,176 | It would certainly be ideal as some sort of... | It would certainly be ideal as some sort of... |
190 | 00:09:20,200 | 00:09:22,176 | - You know, for cutting meat. - Yeah. | - You know, for cutting meat. - Yeah. |
191 | 00:09:22,200 | 00:09:24,209 | So this is the original sort of | So this is the original sort of |
192 | 00:09:24,233 | 00:09:26,809 | knife and fork of the old Stone Age. | knife and fork of the old Stone Age. |
193 | 00:09:26,833 | 00:09:27,909 | And it's still sharp. | And it's still sharp. |
194 | 00:09:27,933 | 00:09:32,803 | Mm, and after 800,000, a million years. | Mm, and after 800,000, a million years. |
195 | 00:09:33,400 | 00:09:35,843 | No human remains have yet been found | No human remains have yet been found |
196 | 00:09:35,867 | 00:09:39,443 | to confirm who made these tools, | to confirm who made these tools, |
197 | 00:09:39,467 | 00:09:42,409 | but it was a truly ancient species, | but it was a truly ancient species, |
198 | 00:09:42,433 | 00:09:48,103 | some 750,000 years older than even the Neanderthals. | some 750,000 years older than even the Neanderthals. |
199 | 00:09:50,633 | 00:09:53,209 | So Happisburgh has pushed back | So Happisburgh has pushed back |
200 | 00:09:53,233 | 00:09:55,809 | the earliest human occupation of Britain | the earliest human occupation of Britain |
201 | 00:09:55,833 | 00:09:59,743 | by at least 200,000 years. | by at least 200,000 years. |
202 | 00:09:59,767 | 00:10:01,776 | But what's really remarkable | But what's really remarkable |
203 | 00:10:01,800 | 00:10:04,209 | is that the humans living here back then | is that the humans living here back then |
204 | 00:10:04,233 | 00:10:08,576 | were surviving in extremely harsh conditions. | were surviving in extremely harsh conditions. |
205 | 00:10:08,600 | 00:10:12,643 | At this time, Britain was approaching an ice age. | At this time, Britain was approaching an ice age. |
206 | 00:10:12,667 | 00:10:16,509 | How did these early species manage to survive here? | How did these early species manage to survive here? |
207 | 00:10:16,533 | 00:10:20,409 | Were they more advanced than we previously thought? | Were they more advanced than we previously thought? |
208 | 00:10:20,433 | 00:10:23,776 | These are the questions now facing experts | These are the questions now facing experts |
209 | 00:10:23,800 | 00:10:27,043 | like Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum. | like Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum. |
210 | 00:10:27,067 | 00:10:28,776 | So, what were these capabilities? | So, what were these capabilities? |
211 | 00:10:28,800 | 00:10:30,643 | Did these people have control of fire? | Did these people have control of fire? |
212 | 00:10:30,667 | 00:10:31,876 | Did they have clothes? | Did they have clothes? |
213 | 00:10:31,900 | 00:10:33,443 | Whether they had clothing, | Whether they had clothing, |
214 | 00:10:33,467 | 00:10:34,743 | whether they had the use of fire, | whether they had the use of fire, |
215 | 00:10:34,767 | 00:10:35,876 | we can't tell from here. | we can't tell from here. |
216 | 00:10:35,900 | 00:10:38,343 | They must have had ways of keeping warm. | They must have had ways of keeping warm. |
217 | 00:10:38,367 | 00:10:39,843 | Well, that's right, yes. | Well, that's right, yes. |
218 | 00:10:39,867 | 00:10:41,943 | I mean, the environment was comparable to, say, | I mean, the environment was comparable to, say, |
219 | 00:10:41,967 | 00:10:44,309 | southern Scandinavia at the present day. | southern Scandinavia at the present day. |
220 | 00:10:44,333 | 00:10:47,276 | And, yes, I think, you know, stick us in the winters | And, yes, I think, you know, stick us in the winters |
221 | 00:10:47,300 | 00:10:49,076 | in southern Scandinavia today, | in southern Scandinavia today, |
222 | 00:10:49,100 | 00:10:50,976 | and we would have problems coping. | and we would have problems coping. |
223 | 00:10:51,000 | 00:10:53,009 | So we'd have to imagine, probably, | So we'd have to imagine, probably, |
224 | 00:10:53,033 | 00:10:54,843 | that there was at least basic clothing | that there was at least basic clothing |
225 | 00:10:54,867 | 00:10:56,709 | and probably the use of fire. | and probably the use of fire. |
226 | 00:10:56,733 | 00:10:59,143 | But the evidence has yet to be found. | But the evidence has yet to be found. |
227 | 00:10:59,167 | 00:11:02,743 | It does make us look again at these earlier human species, | It does make us look again at these earlier human species, |
228 | 00:11:02,767 | 00:11:04,543 | and perhaps they were more sophisticated | and perhaps they were more sophisticated |
229 | 00:11:04,567 | 00:11:06,243 | than we've given them credit for. | than we've given them credit for. |
230 | 00:11:06,267 | 00:11:07,309 | Yes, that's right. Yeah. | Yes, that's right. Yeah. |
231 | 00:11:07,333 | 00:11:09,309 | Their capabilities were far greater, | Their capabilities were far greater, |
232 | 00:11:09,333 | 00:11:10,776 | and that's really exciting. | and that's really exciting. |
233 | 00:11:10,800 | 00:11:13,409 | So we have to make them, in some ways, | So we have to make them, in some ways, |
234 | 00:11:13,433 | 00:11:15,733 | certainly more like us than we would have believed. | certainly more like us than we would have believed. |
235 | 00:11:17,833 | 00:11:20,443 | We know there were people here in Britain | We know there were people here in Britain |
236 | 00:11:20,467 | 00:11:22,609 | nearly a million years ago. | nearly a million years ago. |
237 | 00:11:22,633 | 00:11:27,309 | They were surviving in incredibly cold conditions. | They were surviving in incredibly cold conditions. |
238 | 00:11:27,333 | 00:11:29,709 | It gives us newfound respect, I think, | It gives us newfound respect, I think, |
239 | 00:11:29,733 | 00:11:32,309 | for those earlier human species. | for those earlier human species. |
240 | 00:11:32,333 | 00:11:36,576 | And at the end of the day, it's these insignificant finds | And at the end of the day, it's these insignificant finds |
241 | 00:11:36,600 | 00:11:39,870 | that archaeological revolutions are made of. | that archaeological revolutions are made of. |
242 | 00:11:40,933 | 00:11:44,543 | We don't know how long those people survived here, | We don't know how long those people survived here, |
243 | 00:11:44,567 | 00:11:48,797 | but they were eventually wiped out by the vicious climate. | but they were eventually wiped out by the vicious climate. |
244 | 00:11:50,567 | 00:11:53,043 | For hundreds of thousands of years, | For hundreds of thousands of years, |
245 | 00:11:53,067 | 00:11:54,543 | Britain went through some of | Britain went through some of |
246 | 00:11:54,567 | 00:11:57,676 | the most violent climate changes in world history, | the most violent climate changes in world history, |
247 | 00:11:57,700 | 00:12:01,143 | which repeatedly forced people out. | which repeatedly forced people out. |
248 | 00:12:01,167 | 00:12:05,276 | So these were not our ancestors. | So these were not our ancestors. |
249 | 00:12:05,300 | 00:12:08,543 | To find them, we have to go forward | To find them, we have to go forward |
250 | 00:12:08,567 | 00:12:13,276 | hundreds of thousands of years to the end of the last ice age | hundreds of thousands of years to the end of the last ice age |
251 | 00:12:13,300 | 00:12:15,743 | and to a site in modern-day Nottinghamshire | and to a site in modern-day Nottinghamshire |
252 | 00:12:15,767 | 00:12:17,727 | where they once lived. | where they once lived. |
253 | 00:12:24,467 | 00:12:27,443 | It wasn't until around 13,000 years ago | It wasn't until around 13,000 years ago |
254 | 00:12:27,467 | 00:12:31,609 | that Britain became recolonized by modern humans... | that Britain became recolonized by modern humans... |
255 | 00:12:31,633 | 00:12:33,843 | homo sapiens, people like us... | homo sapiens, people like us... |
256 | 00:12:33,867 | 00:12:36,509 | and this time they were here to stay. | and this time they were here to stay. |
257 | 00:12:36,533 | 00:12:41,043 | And they were living in caves like these at Creswell Crags | And they were living in caves like these at Creswell Crags |
258 | 00:12:41,067 | 00:12:45,227 | at the end of the last ice age. | at the end of the last ice age. |
259 | 00:12:46,100 | 00:12:48,943 | We know that these people were physically identical to us, | We know that these people were physically identical to us, |
260 | 00:12:48,967 | 00:12:51,743 | but archaeologists are relentless in their search | but archaeologists are relentless in their search |
261 | 00:12:51,767 | 00:12:55,576 | to find out just how similar they were to us in other ways, | to find out just how similar they were to us in other ways, |
262 | 00:12:55,600 | 00:12:58,143 | searching for those elusive things | searching for those elusive things |
263 | 00:12:58,167 | 00:13:00,827 | which let us feel truly connected to them. | which let us feel truly connected to them. |
264 | 00:13:03,067 | 00:13:06,409 | Cave art can speak to us like nothing else, | Cave art can speak to us like nothing else, |
265 | 00:13:06,433 | 00:13:11,809 | a distant echo from an ancient world with no written language. | a distant echo from an ancient world with no written language. |
266 | 00:13:11,833 | 00:13:13,643 | And since the discovery | And since the discovery |
267 | 00:13:13,667 | 00:13:17,809 | of the famous Lascaux rock art in France in the 1940s, | of the famous Lascaux rock art in France in the 1940s, |
268 | 00:13:17,833 | 00:13:22,433 | the hunt has been on to find similar rock art in Britain. | the hunt has been on to find similar rock art in Britain. |
269 | 00:13:23,700 | 00:13:27,243 | Archaeologists scoured the walls of caves like these | Archaeologists scoured the walls of caves like these |
270 | 00:13:27,267 | 00:13:29,409 | but found nothing, | but found nothing, |
271 | 00:13:29,433 | 00:13:31,143 | and they put that down to Britain | and they put that down to Britain |
272 | 00:13:31,167 | 00:13:34,043 | being such a challenging environment back then, | being such a challenging environment back then, |
273 | 00:13:34,067 | 00:13:37,043 | that people were just surviving, | that people were just surviving, |
274 | 00:13:37,067 | 00:13:39,943 | clinging on to existence with their fingernails. | clinging on to existence with their fingernails. |
275 | 00:13:39,967 | 00:13:44,067 | They didn't have time for frivolities like rock art. | They didn't have time for frivolities like rock art. |
276 | 00:13:45,400 | 00:13:48,743 | That belief was turned on its head by discoveries | That belief was turned on its head by discoveries |
277 | 00:13:48,767 | 00:13:52,867 | made in this cave, where I met Ian Wall. | made in this cave, where I met Ian Wall. |
278 | 00:13:54,300 | 00:13:57,409 | He's an archaeologist and director of Creswell Crags. | He's an archaeologist and director of Creswell Crags. |
279 | 00:13:57,433 | 00:13:59,403 | - After you. - Thank you. | - After you. - Thank you. |
280 | 00:14:01,600 | 00:14:05,209 | So you're now standing at the level | So you're now standing at the level |
281 | 00:14:05,233 | 00:14:08,543 | that we think our prehistoric ancestors were | that we think our prehistoric ancestors were |
282 | 00:14:08,567 | 00:14:11,043 | 12,000, 13,000 years ago. | 12,000, 13,000 years ago. |
283 | 00:14:11,067 | 00:14:14,476 | So it's the best place to actually view | So it's the best place to actually view |
284 | 00:14:14,500 | 00:14:16,376 | the rock art that they were creating. | the rock art that they were creating. |
285 | 00:14:16,400 | 00:14:18,743 | So I can see a few scratches on the walls here. | So I can see a few scratches on the walls here. |
286 | 00:14:18,767 | 00:14:20,909 | Would you like to come and stand here, and I'll show you? | Would you like to come and stand here, and I'll show you? |
287 | 00:14:20,933 | 00:14:26,509 | This is one of the first figures that was discovered in 2003. | This is one of the first figures that was discovered in 2003. |
288 | 00:14:26,533 | 00:14:30,973 | But you can just pick out some fainter engraved lines here. | But you can just pick out some fainter engraved lines here. |
289 | 00:14:32,367 | 00:14:36,376 | At first I struggled to see what Ian was seeing. | At first I struggled to see what Ian was seeing. |
290 | 00:14:36,400 | 00:14:39,709 | Gradually an image emerged. | Gradually an image emerged. |
291 | 00:14:39,733 | 00:14:43,443 | This is the top of a neck of an animal. | This is the top of a neck of an animal. |
292 | 00:14:43,467 | 00:14:45,409 | Yeah, all right, you're convincing me. | Yeah, all right, you're convincing me. |
293 | 00:14:45,433 | 00:14:46,576 | And the ear. | And the ear. |
294 | 00:14:46,600 | 00:14:48,143 | And coming down here, | And coming down here, |
295 | 00:14:48,167 | 00:14:49,109 | you can see a mouth. | you can see a mouth. |
296 | 00:14:49,133 | 00:14:50,809 | - Is that the mouth there? - Yes. | - Is that the mouth there? - Yes. |
297 | 00:14:50,833 | 00:14:53,509 | And that's the chin running underneath. Yes. | And that's the chin running underneath. Yes. |
298 | 00:14:53,533 | 00:14:55,343 | Is this a leg down here? Is it coming down to a leg? | Is this a leg down here? Is it coming down to a leg? |
299 | 00:14:55,367 | 00:14:58,043 | Yeah, that's right. There are legs here. | Yeah, that's right. There are legs here. |
300 | 00:14:58,067 | 00:15:02,327 | And then the underbelly of the animal. | And then the underbelly of the animal. |
301 | 00:15:03,967 | 00:15:05,743 | That's remarkable. | That's remarkable. |
302 | 00:15:05,767 | 00:15:09,576 | There it was, appearing right before my eyes, | There it was, appearing right before my eyes, |
303 | 00:15:09,600 | 00:15:12,443 | the image of a deer. | the image of a deer. |
304 | 00:15:12,467 | 00:15:14,043 | We can imagine perhaps | We can imagine perhaps |
305 | 00:15:14,067 | 00:15:16,043 | how important this creature would have been | how important this creature would have been |
306 | 00:15:16,067 | 00:15:18,109 | to our ancestors. | to our ancestors. |
307 | 00:15:18,133 | 00:15:21,276 | It was almost certainly one of the things | It was almost certainly one of the things |
308 | 00:15:21,300 | 00:15:23,730 | that kept them alive. | that kept them alive. |
309 | 00:15:25,300 | 00:15:28,843 | So how do you know that that is ice age? | So how do you know that that is ice age? |
310 | 00:15:28,867 | 00:15:32,709 | Crucially you get these deposits of flowstone... | Crucially you get these deposits of flowstone... |
311 | 00:15:32,733 | 00:15:34,809 | it's redeposited calcite... | it's redeposited calcite... |
312 | 00:15:34,833 | 00:15:38,876 | and that forms a thin skin of deposit, | and that forms a thin skin of deposit, |
313 | 00:15:38,900 | 00:15:42,243 | and sometimes that lies over the top of these engraved lines. | and sometimes that lies over the top of these engraved lines. |
314 | 00:15:42,267 | 00:15:44,176 | That's this white area here? | That's this white area here? |
315 | 00:15:44,200 | 00:15:45,509 | That's right, yes. | That's right, yes. |
316 | 00:15:45,533 | 00:15:48,843 | And that can be dated fairly precisely | And that can be dated fairly precisely |
317 | 00:15:48,867 | 00:15:52,509 | with a technique called uranium series dating. | with a technique called uranium series dating. |
318 | 00:15:52,533 | 00:15:55,176 | Right, so if you can date that flowstone, | Right, so if you can date that flowstone, |
319 | 00:15:55,200 | 00:15:58,143 | then if the engravings are underneath it, | then if the engravings are underneath it, |
320 | 00:15:58,167 | 00:15:59,543 | they must predate it. | they must predate it. |
321 | 00:15:59,567 | 00:16:02,209 | - That's right, yes. - So how old is that flowstone? | - That's right, yes. - So how old is that flowstone? |
322 | 00:16:02,233 | 00:16:06,109 | So it's roughly around 13,000 years old. | So it's roughly around 13,000 years old. |
323 | 00:16:06,133 | 00:16:09,309 | So we really are looking at ice age art? | So we really are looking at ice age art? |
324 | 00:16:09,333 | 00:16:12,409 | Yes. That's the clincher. | Yes. That's the clincher. |
325 | 00:16:12,433 | 00:16:15,043 | This is the oldest rock art | This is the oldest rock art |
326 | 00:16:15,067 | 00:16:18,327 | to be found anywhere on these islands. | to be found anywhere on these islands. |
327 | 00:16:19,900 | 00:16:23,676 | So much of archaeology is about how people live their lives | So much of archaeology is about how people live their lives |
328 | 00:16:23,700 | 00:16:25,176 | in quite a mundane way... | in quite a mundane way... |
329 | 00:16:25,200 | 00:16:28,343 | the tools they made, the diet they were eating, | the tools they made, the diet they were eating, |
330 | 00:16:28,367 | 00:16:29,343 | that sort of thing. | that sort of thing. |
331 | 00:16:29,367 | 00:16:31,043 | But here we've got art, | But here we've got art, |
332 | 00:16:31,067 | 00:16:32,543 | which is something a little bit different, | which is something a little bit different, |
333 | 00:16:32,567 | 00:16:36,743 | and it does give you a real connection | and it does give you a real connection |
334 | 00:16:36,767 | 00:16:37,876 | back to those people. | back to those people. |
335 | 00:16:37,900 | 00:16:39,476 | It's incredibly evocative. | It's incredibly evocative. |
336 | 00:16:39,500 | 00:16:42,043 | You can imagine them in that cave | You can imagine them in that cave |
337 | 00:16:42,067 | 00:16:43,809 | making those images on the wall. | making those images on the wall. |
338 | 00:16:43,833 | 00:16:46,543 | And I rather like the mystery | And I rather like the mystery |
339 | 00:16:46,567 | 00:16:50,697 | that we will never know what it really means. | that we will never know what it really means. |
340 | 00:17:09,067 | 00:17:11,476 | I'm on my way to a dig in Orkney | I'm on my way to a dig in Orkney |
341 | 00:17:11,500 | 00:17:13,576 | where archaeologists are finding out more | where archaeologists are finding out more |
342 | 00:17:13,600 | 00:17:18,209 | about early farmers and their mysterious beliefs. | about early farmers and their mysterious beliefs. |
343 | 00:17:18,233 | 00:17:22,843 | My destination is the tiny island of Westray, | My destination is the tiny island of Westray, |
344 | 00:17:22,867 | 00:17:25,709 | home to a site called the Links of Noltland, | home to a site called the Links of Noltland, |
345 | 00:17:25,733 | 00:17:30,073 | where one of this year's most exciting digs is happening. | where one of this year's most exciting digs is happening. |
346 | 00:17:31,367 | 00:17:33,243 | Wow, what a way to see an archaeological site, | Wow, what a way to see an archaeological site, |
347 | 00:17:33,267 | 00:17:36,197 | this bird's-eye view, looking straight down on it. | this bird's-eye view, looking straight down on it. |
348 | 00:17:39,433 | 00:17:42,773 | Looks great. Can't wait to get down there. | Looks great. Can't wait to get down there. |
349 | 00:17:43,767 | 00:17:47,343 | Many Neolithic sites are monumental and ceremonial. | Many Neolithic sites are monumental and ceremonial. |
350 | 00:17:47,367 | 00:17:48,909 | They're really impressive, | They're really impressive, |
351 | 00:17:48,933 | 00:17:51,143 | but it's like going to a cathedral | but it's like going to a cathedral |
352 | 00:17:51,167 | 00:17:54,897 | to find out how everyday people live today. | to find out how everyday people live today. |
353 | 00:17:56,500 | 00:17:58,476 | This site is different. | This site is different. |
354 | 00:17:58,500 | 00:18:01,143 | I've come here because archaeologists are unearthing | I've come here because archaeologists are unearthing |
355 | 00:18:01,167 | 00:18:03,809 | vital evidence of early farms. | vital evidence of early farms. |
356 | 00:18:03,833 | 00:18:08,176 | And these are the extraordinary and rare remains | And these are the extraordinary and rare remains |
357 | 00:18:08,200 | 00:18:13,070 | of a 5,000-year-old village where the farmers once lived. | of a 5,000-year-old village where the farmers once lived. |
358 | 00:18:15,367 | 00:18:19,209 | Archaeologists here are uncovering a remarkable story | Archaeologists here are uncovering a remarkable story |
359 | 00:18:19,233 | 00:18:21,943 | of a struggle to survive. | of a struggle to survive. |
360 | 00:18:21,967 | 00:18:23,709 | Then, as now, | Then, as now, |
361 | 00:18:23,733 | 00:18:27,743 | these islands must have felt like the edge of the world. | these islands must have felt like the edge of the world. |
362 | 00:18:27,767 | 00:18:32,809 | I was given a tour around the site by Richard Strachan. | I was given a tour around the site by Richard Strachan. |
363 | 00:18:32,833 | 00:18:36,376 | It's almost always windy in Orkney. | It's almost always windy in Orkney. |
364 | 00:18:36,400 | 00:18:38,043 | The weather can be on your side sometimes. | The weather can be on your side sometimes. |
365 | 00:18:38,067 | 00:18:39,776 | A little bit of rain on a site | A little bit of rain on a site |
366 | 00:18:39,800 | 00:18:41,476 | is very good as well, archaeologically. | is very good as well, archaeologically. |
367 | 00:18:41,500 | 00:18:43,809 | It keeps the soil nice and moist. It is challenging. | It keeps the soil nice and moist. It is challenging. |
368 | 00:18:43,833 | 00:18:45,509 | Yeah, it is like you have four seasons in one day, | Yeah, it is like you have four seasons in one day, |
369 | 00:18:45,533 | 00:18:47,243 | I can't believe it was raining this morning, | I can't believe it was raining this morning, |
370 | 00:18:47,267 | 00:18:48,509 | and now we've got sunshine. | and now we've got sunshine. |
371 | 00:18:48,533 | 00:18:50,043 | That's very normal here. | That's very normal here. |
372 | 00:18:50,067 | 00:18:51,343 | Should we go over and have a look | Should we go over and have a look |
373 | 00:18:51,367 | 00:18:53,227 | at what some of the archaeologists are finding? | at what some of the archaeologists are finding? |
374 | 00:18:54,167 | 00:18:55,443 | The buildings are covered | The buildings are covered |
375 | 00:18:55,467 | 00:18:58,709 | with a layer of ancient rubbish or midden. | with a layer of ancient rubbish or midden. |
376 | 00:18:58,733 | 00:19:01,276 | And it's from this that many of the signs | And it's from this that many of the signs |
377 | 00:19:01,300 | 00:19:04,509 | of everyday prehistoric life are appearing. | of everyday prehistoric life are appearing. |
378 | 00:19:04,533 | 00:19:06,876 | The whole site is basically sealed by this midden material, | The whole site is basically sealed by this midden material, |
379 | 00:19:06,900 | 00:19:09,143 | and this is containing the shell, the bone, | and this is containing the shell, the bone, |
380 | 00:19:09,167 | 00:19:11,076 | all that sort of stuff. | all that sort of stuff. |
381 | 00:19:11,100 | 00:19:13,209 | And you can see that we're getting pottery too within this, | And you can see that we're getting pottery too within this, |
382 | 00:19:13,233 | 00:19:14,676 | we're getting flint. | we're getting flint. |
383 | 00:19:14,700 | 00:19:16,076 | Is that a piece of pottery down there? | Is that a piece of pottery down there? |
384 | 00:19:16,100 | 00:19:18,243 | Yeah, this is a fantastic piece of pottery | Yeah, this is a fantastic piece of pottery |
385 | 00:19:18,267 | 00:19:19,443 | that Sean's just uncovered. | that Sean's just uncovered. |
386 | 00:19:19,467 | 00:19:22,809 | You can see the wonderful decoration on it. | You can see the wonderful decoration on it. |
387 | 00:19:22,833 | 00:19:24,209 | 'Cause this archaeology | 'Cause this archaeology |
388 | 00:19:24,233 | 00:19:26,209 | is only centimeters below the surface, isn't it? | is only centimeters below the surface, isn't it? |
389 | 00:19:26,233 | 00:19:27,409 | Yeah, you can see, literally. | Yeah, you can see, literally. |
390 | 00:19:27,433 | 00:19:29,503 | You look, and in places it's very, very shallow. | You look, and in places it's very, very shallow. |
391 | 00:19:31,133 | 00:19:33,109 | Under the sand is the evidence | Under the sand is the evidence |
392 | 00:19:33,133 | 00:19:35,709 | the archaeologists have been hoping for... | the archaeologists have been hoping for... |
393 | 00:19:35,733 | 00:19:38,776 | proof that people here were growing barley, | proof that people here were growing barley, |
394 | 00:19:38,800 | 00:19:41,800 | which was one of the earliest plants to be domesticated. | which was one of the earliest plants to be domesticated. |
395 | 00:19:45,233 | 00:19:49,073 | Hazel Moore is directing excavations here. | Hazel Moore is directing excavations here. |
396 | 00:19:50,600 | 00:19:52,343 | I want to go and talk to Hazel about something | I want to go and talk to Hazel about something |
397 | 00:19:52,367 | 00:19:56,043 | rather interesting over this side of the site. | rather interesting over this side of the site. |
398 | 00:19:56,067 | 00:19:58,043 | What's the evidence for the barley farming? | What's the evidence for the barley farming? |
399 | 00:19:58,067 | 00:20:00,043 | Um, carbonized cereal grain | Um, carbonized cereal grain |
400 | 00:20:00,067 | 00:20:02,776 | coming from these midden deposits. | coming from these midden deposits. |
401 | 00:20:02,800 | 00:20:04,009 | They had field systems | They had field systems |
402 | 00:20:04,033 | 00:20:06,509 | which run from the settlement down the slope, | which run from the settlement down the slope, |
403 | 00:20:06,533 | 00:20:09,376 | and they were middening and enriching the soils there. | and they were middening and enriching the soils there. |
404 | 00:20:09,400 | 00:20:12,976 | So presumably that was for growing their crops | So presumably that was for growing their crops |
405 | 00:20:13,000 | 00:20:14,370 | all around the settlement. | all around the settlement. |
406 | 00:20:15,467 | 00:20:19,176 | From the field system, evidence of composting is emerging. | From the field system, evidence of composting is emerging. |
407 | 00:20:19,200 | 00:20:20,809 | Each layer of soil | Each layer of soil |
408 | 00:20:20,833 | 00:20:24,643 | tells a story of a struggle to make farming work here. | tells a story of a struggle to make farming work here. |
409 | 00:20:24,667 | 00:20:26,143 | When we actually look at the profiles, | When we actually look at the profiles, |
410 | 00:20:26,167 | 00:20:29,076 | the soil profiles from the earliest times, | the soil profiles from the earliest times, |
411 | 00:20:29,100 | 00:20:31,209 | what we have are cultivated soils | what we have are cultivated soils |
412 | 00:20:31,233 | 00:20:33,543 | swamped again and again by blowing sand. | swamped again and again by blowing sand. |
413 | 00:20:33,567 | 00:20:35,543 | So do you think this would have been | So do you think this would have been |
414 | 00:20:35,567 | 00:20:37,009 | a challenging environment to be farming in? | a challenging environment to be farming in? |
415 | 00:20:37,033 | 00:20:38,843 | Yes, yeah. I mean, it's challenging nowadays. | Yes, yeah. I mean, it's challenging nowadays. |
416 | 00:20:38,867 | 00:20:41,276 | It wouldn't have been any different then. | It wouldn't have been any different then. |
417 | 00:20:41,300 | 00:20:44,243 | Its light sandy soils are ideal for cultivation, | Its light sandy soils are ideal for cultivation, |
418 | 00:20:44,267 | 00:20:46,143 | in that they can be worked easily and turned easily, | in that they can be worked easily and turned easily, |
419 | 00:20:46,167 | 00:20:48,109 | but they're also very prone to erosion, | but they're also very prone to erosion, |
420 | 00:20:48,133 | 00:20:49,833 | and it's a very windy place. | and it's a very windy place. |
421 | 00:20:58,467 | 00:21:01,676 | The conditions here would have made it difficult to survive | The conditions here would have made it difficult to survive |
422 | 00:21:01,700 | 00:21:03,709 | just growing crops. | just growing crops. |
423 | 00:21:03,733 | 00:21:07,543 | But new finds are showing that domesticated animals | But new finds are showing that domesticated animals |
424 | 00:21:07,567 | 00:21:11,497 | were extremely important to these early farmers. | were extremely important to these early farmers. |
425 | 00:21:14,400 | 00:21:18,276 | But yet again, amongst the seemingly mundane finds, | But yet again, amongst the seemingly mundane finds, |
426 | 00:21:18,300 | 00:21:21,630 | there are marvelous glimpses of a vanished world. | there are marvelous glimpses of a vanished world. |
427 | 00:21:24,067 | 00:21:26,309 | Emerging from the soils is something | Emerging from the soils is something |
428 | 00:21:26,333 | 00:21:29,373 | which has stunned the archaeologists. | which has stunned the archaeologists. |
429 | 00:21:30,333 | 00:21:33,043 | The skulls of 40 cattle | The skulls of 40 cattle |
430 | 00:21:33,067 | 00:21:36,527 | built into the foundations of a wall. | built into the foundations of a wall. |
431 | 00:21:39,133 | 00:21:41,109 | How strange. | How strange. |
432 | 00:21:41,133 | 00:21:43,043 | - Can we get a bit closer to it? - Yeah, we can do. | - Can we get a bit closer to it? - Yeah, we can do. |
433 | 00:21:43,067 | 00:21:45,427 | Yeah, you can come and have a look down here. | Yeah, you can come and have a look down here. |
434 | 00:21:49,433 | 00:21:52,076 | This is really peculiar. | This is really peculiar. |
435 | 00:21:52,100 | 00:21:53,876 | You can see a whole line of them here. | You can see a whole line of them here. |
436 | 00:21:53,900 | 00:21:56,109 | This is the outer face of the wall along here, | This is the outer face of the wall along here, |
437 | 00:21:56,133 | 00:21:58,276 | the stones, and that's the inner face there. | the stones, and that's the inner face there. |
438 | 00:21:58,300 | 00:22:00,743 | So they're placed into the core of the wall, | So they're placed into the core of the wall, |
439 | 00:22:00,767 | 00:22:02,343 | into the thickness of the wall. | into the thickness of the wall. |
440 | 00:22:02,367 | 00:22:03,776 | How peculiar, because that means | How peculiar, because that means |
441 | 00:22:03,800 | 00:22:05,343 | that they wouldn't have been visible | that they wouldn't have been visible |
442 | 00:22:05,367 | 00:22:06,743 | when the building was standing. | when the building was standing. |
443 | 00:22:06,767 | 00:22:08,343 | No, they would have been placed there | No, they would have been placed there |
444 | 00:22:08,367 | 00:22:09,509 | when the wall was being built. | when the wall was being built. |
445 | 00:22:09,533 | 00:22:12,043 | They were the foundation level of the building. | They were the foundation level of the building. |
446 | 00:22:12,067 | 00:22:15,243 | And you can see how they sort of relate to each other. | And you can see how they sort of relate to each other. |
447 | 00:22:15,267 | 00:22:17,509 | They've been put in sequentially, these ones, | They've been put in sequentially, these ones, |
448 | 00:22:17,533 | 00:22:20,143 | and the horns are actually overlapping on those ones, | and the horns are actually overlapping on those ones, |
449 | 00:22:20,167 | 00:22:21,843 | and they've put some stones in | and they've put some stones in |
450 | 00:22:21,867 | 00:22:24,143 | and then some more cattle skulls all along. | and then some more cattle skulls all along. |
451 | 00:22:24,167 | 00:22:26,943 | It's making them part of a building. | It's making them part of a building. |
452 | 00:22:26,967 | 00:22:29,076 | It's almost monumentalizing them, isn't it? | It's almost monumentalizing them, isn't it? |
453 | 00:22:29,100 | 00:22:31,109 | It's somehow enshrining them. | It's somehow enshrining them. |
454 | 00:22:31,133 | 00:22:34,276 | Imbuing the building with their spirit or whatever, yeah. | Imbuing the building with their spirit or whatever, yeah. |
455 | 00:22:34,300 | 00:22:36,170 | Building them into the very foundations. | Building them into the very foundations. |
456 | 00:22:37,267 | 00:22:38,676 | This strange discovery | This strange discovery |
457 | 00:22:38,700 | 00:22:41,043 | reinforces what the researchers have learned | reinforces what the researchers have learned |
458 | 00:22:41,067 | 00:22:42,709 | about the importance of livestock | about the importance of livestock |
459 | 00:22:42,733 | 00:22:44,903 | to those early farmers. | to those early farmers. |
460 | 00:22:48,900 | 00:22:51,876 | It's easy to see why cattle were so important | It's easy to see why cattle were so important |
461 | 00:22:51,900 | 00:22:54,643 | in this fragile and remote landscape. | in this fragile and remote landscape. |
462 | 00:22:54,667 | 00:22:56,376 | And it's yet another glimpse | And it's yet another glimpse |
463 | 00:22:56,400 | 00:22:59,776 | into a mysterious ancient mind-set. | into a mysterious ancient mind-set. |
464 | 00:22:59,800 | 00:23:02,043 | This is just utterly bizarre, | This is just utterly bizarre, |
465 | 00:23:02,067 | 00:23:05,909 | these cattle skulls built into the fabric of a building. | these cattle skulls built into the fabric of a building. |
466 | 00:23:05,933 | 00:23:08,676 | We'll never know exactly what they mean, | We'll never know exactly what they mean, |
467 | 00:23:08,700 | 00:23:12,500 | but they obviously represent some complex beliefs. | but they obviously represent some complex beliefs. |
468 | 00:23:14,633 | 00:23:18,043 | The archaeologists now know that this land was farmed | The archaeologists now know that this land was farmed |
469 | 00:23:18,067 | 00:23:20,743 | for around 50 generations, | for around 50 generations, |
470 | 00:23:20,767 | 00:23:24,176 | but eventually the struggle proved too great. | but eventually the struggle proved too great. |
471 | 00:23:24,200 | 00:23:27,043 | Overcome by the wind and sand, | Overcome by the wind and sand, |
472 | 00:23:27,067 | 00:23:30,567 | they gave up and abandoned their village. | they gave up and abandoned their village. |
473 | 00:23:32,467 | 00:23:34,276 | It appears that the buildings | It appears that the buildings |
474 | 00:23:34,300 | 00:23:37,109 | were deliberately filled in with rubble, | were deliberately filled in with rubble, |
475 | 00:23:37,133 | 00:23:39,809 | within which archaeologists found | within which archaeologists found |
476 | 00:23:39,833 | 00:23:44,643 | what could be a defining symbol of the farmers' defeat. | what could be a defining symbol of the farmers' defeat. |
477 | 00:23:44,667 | 00:23:47,043 | And of course this is something we found last year | And of course this is something we found last year |
478 | 00:23:47,067 | 00:23:49,576 | which really is quite unique, | which really is quite unique, |
479 | 00:23:49,600 | 00:23:52,409 | and we haven't seen anything | and we haven't seen anything |
480 | 00:23:52,433 | 00:23:53,876 | like this from the whole of Scotland. | like this from the whole of Scotland. |
481 | 00:23:53,900 | 00:23:57,409 | You've brought her to show me! How lovely. | You've brought her to show me! How lovely. |
482 | 00:23:57,433 | 00:23:59,076 | There she is in all her glory. | There she is in all her glory. |
483 | 00:23:59,100 | 00:24:00,743 | - You can take her out. - Very small. | - You can take her out. - Very small. |
484 | 00:24:00,767 | 00:24:02,443 | Yeah. | Yeah. |
485 | 00:24:02,467 | 00:24:06,376 | This tiny figurine is known as the Westray Wifey. | This tiny figurine is known as the Westray Wifey. |
486 | 00:24:06,400 | 00:24:08,709 | And despite her homespun appearance, | And despite her homespun appearance, |
487 | 00:24:08,733 | 00:24:10,843 | she may be the earliest known expression | she may be the earliest known expression |
488 | 00:24:10,867 | 00:24:14,076 | of religious identity ever found in Scotland. | of religious identity ever found in Scotland. |
489 | 00:24:14,100 | 00:24:15,243 | She's really sweet. | She's really sweet. |
490 | 00:24:15,267 | 00:24:17,276 | She's got a very cartoonlike face, hasn't she? | She's got a very cartoonlike face, hasn't she? |
491 | 00:24:17,300 | 00:24:18,343 | She has. | She has. |
492 | 00:24:18,367 | 00:24:20,409 | You can just pick out that she has eyes | You can just pick out that she has eyes |
493 | 00:24:20,433 | 00:24:22,376 | and a very sort of curvy eyebrow. | and a very sort of curvy eyebrow. |
494 | 00:24:22,400 | 00:24:23,509 | Yeah. | Yeah. |
495 | 00:24:23,533 | 00:24:26,476 | And she's got this sort of very rough mouth, | And she's got this sort of very rough mouth, |
496 | 00:24:26,500 | 00:24:29,309 | but she's also got arms down by her sides. | but she's also got arms down by her sides. |
497 | 00:24:29,333 | 00:24:30,609 | Yeah, yeah. | Yeah, yeah. |
498 | 00:24:30,633 | 00:24:32,676 | And then scratches on the top of her head as well. | And then scratches on the top of her head as well. |
499 | 00:24:32,700 | 00:24:35,670 | - Yeah, like her hair almost. - Indicating hair, yeah. | - Yeah, like her hair almost. - Indicating hair, yeah. |
500 | 00:24:39,167 | 00:24:44,043 | Where the figurine was found makes her even more intriguing. | Where the figurine was found makes her even more intriguing. |
501 | 00:24:44,067 | 00:24:46,443 | She seems to have been carefully positioned | She seems to have been carefully positioned |
502 | 00:24:46,467 | 00:24:48,709 | in the abandoned ruins. | in the abandoned ruins. |
503 | 00:24:48,733 | 00:24:50,409 | It seems like she was probably | It seems like she was probably |
504 | 00:24:50,433 | 00:24:52,376 | put there deliberately as a closing deposit. | put there deliberately as a closing deposit. |
505 | 00:24:52,400 | 00:24:54,543 | She was placed there, and then there's no evidence | She was placed there, and then there's no evidence |
506 | 00:24:54,567 | 00:24:56,809 | that anybody ever came and did anything here again. | that anybody ever came and did anything here again. |
507 | 00:24:56,833 | 00:24:58,876 | So that was probably their way of marking | So that was probably their way of marking |
508 | 00:24:58,900 | 00:25:00,209 | the close of that settlement. | the close of that settlement. |
509 | 00:25:00,233 | 00:25:01,509 | She's really sweet. | She's really sweet. |
510 | 00:25:01,533 | 00:25:04,109 | Hazel believes that Wifey's placing | Hazel believes that Wifey's placing |
511 | 00:25:04,133 | 00:25:08,773 | may have been a ritual end to the farmers' long struggle. | may have been a ritual end to the farmers' long struggle. |
512 | 00:25:10,633 | 00:25:13,576 | We're actually seeing how people thought, you know, | We're actually seeing how people thought, you know, |
513 | 00:25:13,600 | 00:25:15,409 | that they decided that this was a good way | that they decided that this was a good way |
514 | 00:25:15,433 | 00:25:17,843 | to close this building off at the end of the period. | to close this building off at the end of the period. |
515 | 00:25:17,867 | 00:25:19,909 | So it gives you much more of an insight | So it gives you much more of an insight |
516 | 00:25:19,933 | 00:25:23,073 | into how peoples' minds worked at the time. | into how peoples' minds worked at the time. |
517 | 00:25:24,067 | 00:25:26,043 | If the researchers are right, | If the researchers are right, |
518 | 00:25:26,067 | 00:25:28,843 | then the Westray Wifey is unique, | then the Westray Wifey is unique, |
519 | 00:25:28,867 | 00:25:33,743 | a 5,000-year-old household goddess perhaps. | a 5,000-year-old household goddess perhaps. |
520 | 00:25:33,767 | 00:25:36,676 | Figurines of this type are usually thought to be goddesses | Figurines of this type are usually thought to be goddesses |
521 | 00:25:36,700 | 00:25:39,843 | or, you know, some religious deity kind of thing. | or, you know, some religious deity kind of thing. |
522 | 00:25:39,867 | 00:25:41,376 | Given that she's the only one that we have | Given that she's the only one that we have |
523 | 00:25:41,400 | 00:25:44,043 | and we don't have widespread representations, | and we don't have widespread representations, |
524 | 00:25:44,067 | 00:25:46,943 | it's hard to argue that she is definitely a goddess, | it's hard to argue that she is definitely a goddess, |
525 | 00:25:46,967 | 00:25:49,709 | but seems that she must be representational | but seems that she must be representational |
526 | 00:25:49,733 | 00:25:53,103 | of some concept, religious concept. | of some concept, religious concept. |
527 | 00:25:54,867 | 00:25:57,676 | It's rather wonderful to hold this tiny little figurine. | It's rather wonderful to hold this tiny little figurine. |
528 | 00:25:57,700 | 00:25:59,743 | It's rather hard to know | It's rather hard to know |
529 | 00:25:59,767 | 00:26:01,543 | what she meant to the people that made her, | what she meant to the people that made her, |
530 | 00:26:01,567 | 00:26:06,643 | but nonetheless she's a fantastic little message | but nonetheless she's a fantastic little message |
531 | 00:26:06,667 | 00:26:08,343 | from the past. | from the past. |
532 | 00:26:08,367 | 00:26:10,397 | And utterly unique. | And utterly unique. |
533 | 00:26:11,067 | 00:26:13,676 | But just days after I left the dig, | But just days after I left the dig, |
534 | 00:26:13,700 | 00:26:16,643 | a second figurine was unearthed, | a second figurine was unearthed, |
535 | 00:26:16,667 | 00:26:18,509 | bolstering Hazel's belief | bolstering Hazel's belief |
536 | 00:26:18,533 | 00:26:22,576 | that these may have been household goddesses. | that these may have been household goddesses. |
537 | 00:26:22,600 | 00:26:25,709 | This is just the third season of digging here. | This is just the third season of digging here. |
538 | 00:26:25,733 | 00:26:28,509 | Every day, more of the mysterious settlement | Every day, more of the mysterious settlement |
539 | 00:26:28,533 | 00:26:30,173 | is revealed. | is revealed. |
540 | 00:26:31,967 | 00:26:33,943 | For thousands of years | For thousands of years |
541 | 00:26:33,967 | 00:26:37,109 | people had buried their dead in communal graves. | people had buried their dead in communal graves. |
542 | 00:26:37,133 | 00:26:39,576 | Then around 4,500 years ago | Then around 4,500 years ago |
543 | 00:26:39,600 | 00:26:42,909 | something changed in that time-honored ritual, | something changed in that time-honored ritual, |
544 | 00:26:42,933 | 00:26:45,843 | and people began to be buried in individual graves, | and people began to be buried in individual graves, |
545 | 00:26:45,867 | 00:26:49,397 | something which seems much more familiar to us today. | something which seems much more familiar to us today. |
546 | 00:26:52,833 | 00:26:56,443 | This is Culduthel man. | This is Culduthel man. |
547 | 00:26:56,467 | 00:26:58,676 | He was discovered in 1975, | He was discovered in 1975, |
548 | 00:26:58,700 | 00:27:01,230 | and he had been buried in the new way. | and he had been buried in the new way. |
549 | 00:27:04,067 | 00:27:06,309 | This is very well preserved, | This is very well preserved, |
550 | 00:27:06,333 | 00:27:08,673 | considering this is a 4,000-year-old skeleton. | considering this is a 4,000-year-old skeleton. |
551 | 00:27:10,433 | 00:27:14,176 | His skeleton is curated by Alison Sheridan. | His skeleton is curated by Alison Sheridan. |
552 | 00:27:14,200 | 00:27:17,876 | In his grave, archaeologists found a beaker, | In his grave, archaeologists found a beaker, |
553 | 00:27:17,900 | 00:27:19,943 | a distinctive clay pot | a distinctive clay pot |
554 | 00:27:19,967 | 00:27:22,943 | that was the symbol of this new burial style. | that was the symbol of this new burial style. |
555 | 00:27:22,967 | 00:27:26,843 | We know that Beaker burials started on the continent, | We know that Beaker burials started on the continent, |
556 | 00:27:26,867 | 00:27:28,476 | but once they arrived here | but once they arrived here |
557 | 00:27:28,500 | 00:27:31,143 | they spread rapidly throughout the country. | they spread rapidly throughout the country. |
558 | 00:27:31,167 | 00:27:33,409 | And the question that has perplexed archaeologists | And the question that has perplexed archaeologists |
559 | 00:27:33,433 | 00:27:35,543 | for 150 years | for 150 years |
560 | 00:27:35,567 | 00:27:40,943 | is how that Beaker culture spread so far so quickly. | is how that Beaker culture spread so far so quickly. |
561 | 00:27:40,967 | 00:27:44,576 | Now a team of archaeologists is using cutting-edge science | Now a team of archaeologists is using cutting-edge science |
562 | 00:27:44,600 | 00:27:47,109 | to work that out. | to work that out. |
563 | 00:27:47,133 | 00:27:51,643 | They want to know if it was just the ideas that traveled | They want to know if it was just the ideas that traveled |
564 | 00:27:51,667 | 00:27:54,927 | or if the people did too. | or if the people did too. |
565 | 00:27:56,133 | 00:27:58,143 | Janet Montgomery and Jane Evans | Janet Montgomery and Jane Evans |
566 | 00:27:58,167 | 00:28:00,843 | are analyzing the isotopic signatures | are analyzing the isotopic signatures |
567 | 00:28:00,867 | 00:28:03,509 | of Beaker skeletons like Culduthel man | of Beaker skeletons like Culduthel man |
568 | 00:28:03,533 | 00:28:05,309 | to find out where they lived | to find out where they lived |
569 | 00:28:05,333 | 00:28:07,873 | and whether they moved during their lifetimes. | and whether they moved during their lifetimes. |
570 | 00:28:10,267 | 00:28:13,276 | To do that, they must painstakingly extract | To do that, they must painstakingly extract |
571 | 00:28:13,300 | 00:28:17,300 | some tooth enamel from each Bronze Age individual. | some tooth enamel from each Bronze Age individual. |
572 | 00:28:18,900 | 00:28:21,043 | We only need a very small amount, | We only need a very small amount, |
573 | 00:28:21,067 | 00:28:24,043 | less than a match-head size of tissue. | less than a match-head size of tissue. |
574 | 00:28:24,067 | 00:28:26,109 | But you have to make sure when you take it | But you have to make sure when you take it |
575 | 00:28:26,133 | 00:28:27,509 | that it's not contaminated. | that it's not contaminated. |
576 | 00:28:27,533 | 00:28:29,676 | It has to be cleaned, it has to be carefully removed | It has to be cleaned, it has to be carefully removed |
577 | 00:28:29,700 | 00:28:31,609 | so you don't mix up the tissues | so you don't mix up the tissues |
578 | 00:28:31,633 | 00:28:34,576 | and that it's free from any contamination from the burial. | and that it's free from any contamination from the burial. |
579 | 00:28:34,600 | 00:28:36,276 | What we want to do is take something | What we want to do is take something |
580 | 00:28:36,300 | 00:28:38,643 | that tells you about the person when they were alive, | that tells you about the person when they were alive, |
581 | 00:28:38,667 | 00:28:40,676 | not what's happened during the time | not what's happened during the time |
582 | 00:28:40,700 | 00:28:42,876 | their body's been buried in the ground. | their body's been buried in the ground. |
583 | 00:28:42,900 | 00:28:48,243 | Chemicals in each sample tell us where that person grew up. | Chemicals in each sample tell us where that person grew up. |
584 | 00:28:48,267 | 00:28:50,543 | We know where they were then buried, | We know where they were then buried, |
585 | 00:28:50,567 | 00:28:54,409 | so we can tell if someone moved during their lifetime | so we can tell if someone moved during their lifetime |
586 | 00:28:54,433 | 00:28:57,676 | or if they stayed in their childhood home. | or if they stayed in their childhood home. |
587 | 00:28:57,700 | 00:29:02,176 | Janet and Jane have analyzed over 250 Beaker skeletons, | Janet and Jane have analyzed over 250 Beaker skeletons, |
588 | 00:29:02,200 | 00:29:04,309 | in this way. | in this way. |
589 | 00:29:04,333 | 00:29:08,043 | The project has been five years in the making, | The project has been five years in the making, |
590 | 00:29:08,067 | 00:29:12,409 | It's the biggest-ever survey of our prehistoric ancestors, | It's the biggest-ever survey of our prehistoric ancestors, |
591 | 00:29:12,433 | 00:29:16,933 | and Culduthel man is the latest to join it. | and Culduthel man is the latest to join it. |
592 | 00:29:18,567 | 00:29:20,776 | His teeth were in such poor condition | His teeth were in such poor condition |
593 | 00:29:20,800 | 00:29:23,043 | that Jane had to use a different technique | that Jane had to use a different technique |
594 | 00:29:23,067 | 00:29:25,943 | to extract the sample. | to extract the sample. |
595 | 00:29:25,967 | 00:29:29,043 | These teeth have got almost no enamel remaining on them. | These teeth have got almost no enamel remaining on them. |
596 | 00:29:29,067 | 00:29:32,676 | So, what I did, instead of slicing the tooth up, | So, what I did, instead of slicing the tooth up, |
597 | 00:29:32,700 | 00:29:36,343 | I had to pick off very carefully with forceps | I had to pick off very carefully with forceps |
598 | 00:29:36,367 | 00:29:38,776 | small fragments of the enamel. | small fragments of the enamel. |
599 | 00:29:38,800 | 00:29:41,443 | Jane managed to obtain a sample, | Jane managed to obtain a sample, |
600 | 00:29:41,467 | 00:29:43,109 | but once she got the results | but once she got the results |
601 | 00:29:43,133 | 00:29:46,043 | she was convinced there had been a mistake. | she was convinced there had been a mistake. |
602 | 00:29:46,067 | 00:29:48,843 | It was only after I got the enamel results in triplicate | It was only after I got the enamel results in triplicate |
603 | 00:29:48,867 | 00:29:51,076 | that I was convinced and happy enough | that I was convinced and happy enough |
604 | 00:29:51,100 | 00:29:55,043 | with the results to tell everybody else what we'd got. | with the results to tell everybody else what we'd got. |
605 | 00:29:55,067 | 00:29:57,343 | The analysis has been carried out here | The analysis has been carried out here |
606 | 00:29:57,367 | 00:29:58,676 | at the British Geological Survey, | at the British Geological Survey, |
607 | 00:29:58,700 | 00:30:00,776 | and after five years the researchers | and after five years the researchers |
608 | 00:30:00,800 | 00:30:03,209 | are just beginning to bring all their results together | are just beginning to bring all their results together |
609 | 00:30:03,233 | 00:30:05,773 | and draw some conclusions. | and draw some conclusions. |
610 | 00:30:07,233 | 00:30:11,103 | I wonder how our man from Culduthel has done. | I wonder how our man from Culduthel has done. |
611 | 00:30:12,300 | 00:30:15,276 | The isotope composition that his teeth gave | The isotope composition that his teeth gave |
612 | 00:30:15,300 | 00:30:18,643 | suggested that he came from an area of this type of rock, | suggested that he came from an area of this type of rock, |
613 | 00:30:18,667 | 00:30:21,609 | this area of Antrim, and it's the Antrim basalts. | this area of Antrim, and it's the Antrim basalts. |
614 | 00:30:21,633 | 00:30:23,176 | So you think he's Irish? | So you think he's Irish? |
615 | 00:30:23,200 | 00:30:25,409 | That is the most likely place for him to have come from. | That is the most likely place for him to have come from. |
616 | 00:30:25,433 | 00:30:26,909 | How interesting. | How interesting. |
617 | 00:30:26,933 | 00:30:30,809 | And so he managed to make it from his childhood site here | And so he managed to make it from his childhood site here |
618 | 00:30:30,833 | 00:30:33,476 | to his burial site up around here. | to his burial site up around here. |
619 | 00:30:33,500 | 00:30:36,243 | So around 4,000 years ago | So around 4,000 years ago |
620 | 00:30:36,267 | 00:30:40,076 | Culduthel man moved 300 miles across the seas | Culduthel man moved 300 miles across the seas |
621 | 00:30:40,100 | 00:30:43,876 | from his Irish home to his Scottish grave, | from his Irish home to his Scottish grave, |
622 | 00:30:43,900 | 00:30:47,470 | where he lay buried in a signature Beaker burial. | where he lay buried in a signature Beaker burial. |
623 | 00:30:49,833 | 00:30:53,743 | But Culduthel man is just one of the 250 skeletons | But Culduthel man is just one of the 250 skeletons |
624 | 00:30:53,767 | 00:30:55,476 | from around the country | from around the country |
625 | 00:30:55,500 | 00:30:59,200 | which could explain how the Beaker culture spread. | which could explain how the Beaker culture spread. |
626 | 00:31:00,067 | 00:31:02,676 | What about the isotope project as a whole? | What about the isotope project as a whole? |
627 | 00:31:02,700 | 00:31:05,043 | What is it telling you about this period in the Bronze Age | What is it telling you about this period in the Bronze Age |
628 | 00:31:05,067 | 00:31:07,076 | and about populations moving around? | and about populations moving around? |
629 | 00:31:07,100 | 00:31:11,543 | A lot of the evidence that I've got from this project | A lot of the evidence that I've got from this project |
630 | 00:31:11,567 | 00:31:15,097 | and other data, they seem to be very mobile at this time. | and other data, they seem to be very mobile at this time. |
631 | 00:31:17,167 | 00:31:20,209 | The survey reveals some intriguing results | The survey reveals some intriguing results |
632 | 00:31:20,233 | 00:31:23,209 | showing our ancestors traveling long distances | showing our ancestors traveling long distances |
633 | 00:31:23,233 | 00:31:24,843 | across the country. | across the country. |
634 | 00:31:24,867 | 00:31:27,843 | Results from Beaker burials in the Yorkshire Wolds area, | Results from Beaker burials in the Yorkshire Wolds area, |
635 | 00:31:27,867 | 00:31:32,409 | for example, showed that over 50% of the individuals sampled | for example, showed that over 50% of the individuals sampled |
636 | 00:31:32,433 | 00:31:35,576 | had moved there from somewhere else, | had moved there from somewhere else, |
637 | 00:31:35,600 | 00:31:38,230 | some from as far afield as Scotland. | some from as far afield as Scotland. |
638 | 00:31:40,233 | 00:31:42,043 | It's interesting because I think you tend to think | It's interesting because I think you tend to think |
639 | 00:31:42,067 | 00:31:43,609 | that people in these prehistoric societies | that people in these prehistoric societies |
640 | 00:31:43,633 | 00:31:45,409 | were perhaps a lot more settled than that. | were perhaps a lot more settled than that. |
641 | 00:31:45,433 | 00:31:47,743 | The further back you go, the more settled they were. | The further back you go, the more settled they were. |
642 | 00:31:47,767 | 00:31:49,197 | - It doesn't work that way. - No. | - It doesn't work that way. - No. |
643 | 00:31:50,700 | 00:31:52,376 | This project is really interesting | This project is really interesting |
644 | 00:31:52,400 | 00:31:53,509 | because of the scale of it. | because of the scale of it. |
645 | 00:31:53,533 | 00:31:56,409 | They've looked at 250 individuals, | They've looked at 250 individuals, |
646 | 00:31:56,433 | 00:31:58,476 | and that means we can start | and that means we can start |
647 | 00:31:58,500 | 00:32:01,043 | to answer some of those big questions | to answer some of those big questions |
648 | 00:32:01,067 | 00:32:04,567 | about the population of Britain during the Bronze Age. | about the population of Britain during the Bronze Age. |
649 | 00:32:17,633 | 00:32:21,276 | I'm on my way to meet a group of amateur archaeologists | I'm on my way to meet a group of amateur archaeologists |
650 | 00:32:21,300 | 00:32:26,230 | who are uncovering a remarkable story about Bronze Age Britain. | who are uncovering a remarkable story about Bronze Age Britain. |
651 | 00:32:29,100 | 00:32:32,043 | 4,000 years ago these waters would have been | 4,000 years ago these waters would have been |
652 | 00:32:32,067 | 00:32:34,676 | buzzing with ships. | buzzing with ships. |
653 | 00:32:34,700 | 00:32:37,809 | Bronze Age Britons were traveling and trading | Bronze Age Britons were traveling and trading |
654 | 00:32:37,833 | 00:32:39,833 | the length of this coast. | the length of this coast. |
655 | 00:32:42,733 | 00:32:45,143 | I'm heading towards a site that has yielded | I'm heading towards a site that has yielded |
656 | 00:32:45,167 | 00:32:47,709 | a treasure trove of beautiful objects | a treasure trove of beautiful objects |
657 | 00:32:47,733 | 00:32:51,176 | and vivid proof of the early importance of trade | and vivid proof of the early importance of trade |
658 | 00:32:51,200 | 00:32:54,443 | and the risks that traders ran. | and the risks that traders ran. |
659 | 00:32:54,467 | 00:32:56,709 | We're about half a mile off the coast, | We're about half a mile off the coast, |
660 | 00:32:56,733 | 00:32:59,073 | near Salcombe in South Devon. | near Salcombe in South Devon. |
661 | 00:33:03,900 | 00:33:05,543 | We're approaching really carefully | We're approaching really carefully |
662 | 00:33:05,567 | 00:33:08,109 | because there are divers down there at the moment. | because there are divers down there at the moment. |
663 | 00:33:08,133 | 00:33:10,043 | - Hello. - Hi. | - Hello. - Hi. |
664 | 00:33:10,067 | 00:33:12,476 | - Morning. - Hello, Alice! | - Morning. - Hello, Alice! |
665 | 00:33:12,500 | 00:33:14,676 | - Hello! - Hello! | - Hello! - Hello! |
666 | 00:33:14,700 | 00:33:16,376 | These aren't professional archaeologists. | These aren't professional archaeologists. |
667 | 00:33:16,400 | 00:33:19,809 | They're divers who found a love for history. | They're divers who found a love for history. |
668 | 00:33:19,833 | 00:33:22,309 | And for me, that makes what they're finding here | And for me, that makes what they're finding here |
669 | 00:33:22,333 | 00:33:24,509 | all the more special. | all the more special. |
670 | 00:33:24,533 | 00:33:26,409 | It's real dedication here. | It's real dedication here. |
671 | 00:33:26,433 | 00:33:29,709 | These guys are down at Salcombe every few weeks, | These guys are down at Salcombe every few weeks, |
672 | 00:33:29,733 | 00:33:32,043 | diving in the same spot, | diving in the same spot, |
673 | 00:33:32,067 | 00:33:34,409 | constantly looking for new objects | constantly looking for new objects |
674 | 00:33:34,433 | 00:33:36,073 | that are coming up from the seabed. | that are coming up from the seabed. |
675 | 00:33:43,667 | 00:33:47,109 | The team dive using underwater metal detectors | The team dive using underwater metal detectors |
676 | 00:33:47,133 | 00:33:48,833 | to scan the seabed. | to scan the seabed. |
677 | 00:33:51,600 | 00:33:55,909 | In the last few months, their dedication has paid off | In the last few months, their dedication has paid off |
678 | 00:33:55,933 | 00:33:59,243 | with a massive haul of objects | with a massive haul of objects |
679 | 00:33:59,267 | 00:34:01,876 | which have been sent to the British Museum, | which have been sent to the British Museum, |
680 | 00:34:01,900 | 00:34:06,409 | where they're being analyzed by curator Ben Roberts. | where they're being analyzed by curator Ben Roberts. |
681 | 00:34:06,433 | 00:34:09,109 | In total, we've got over 300 objects. | In total, we've got over 300 objects. |
682 | 00:34:09,133 | 00:34:10,909 | We're still working through them at the moment, | We're still working through them at the moment, |
683 | 00:34:10,933 | 00:34:12,209 | and they're still being found. | and they're still being found. |
684 | 00:34:12,233 | 00:34:13,603 | That's the fantastic thing. | That's the fantastic thing. |
685 | 00:34:16,267 | 00:34:19,476 | What's amazing about this particular collection of objects | What's amazing about this particular collection of objects |
686 | 00:34:19,500 | 00:34:22,376 | is it encapsulates where we were culturally | is it encapsulates where we were culturally |
687 | 00:34:22,400 | 00:34:25,043 | about 3,000 or so years ago. | about 3,000 or so years ago. |
688 | 00:34:25,067 | 00:34:28,243 | You have swords, and this was, for your Bronze Age warrior, | You have swords, and this was, for your Bronze Age warrior, |
689 | 00:34:28,267 | 00:34:31,509 | what you would have used in conflict against your neighbors. | what you would have used in conflict against your neighbors. |
690 | 00:34:31,533 | 00:34:33,909 | And we have plenty of evidence for warfare at this time. | And we have plenty of evidence for warfare at this time. |
691 | 00:34:33,933 | 00:34:36,843 | Also you have large-scale trade. | Also you have large-scale trade. |
692 | 00:34:36,867 | 00:34:40,167 | This is proper large-scale trade in commodities. | This is proper large-scale trade in commodities. |
693 | 00:34:48,133 | 00:34:50,833 | So that's the next couple of divers going down. | So that's the next couple of divers going down. |
694 | 00:34:58,633 | 00:35:02,909 | The divers can spend up to an hour at a time underwater | The divers can spend up to an hour at a time underwater |
695 | 00:35:02,933 | 00:35:05,509 | at a depth of 10 meters. | at a depth of 10 meters. |
696 | 00:35:05,533 | 00:35:08,076 | I was talking to Jim, and he said that the seabed, | I was talking to Jim, and he said that the seabed, |
697 | 00:35:08,100 | 00:35:10,776 | the sediments, the gravels, move around quite a bit down there, | the sediments, the gravels, move around quite a bit down there, |
698 | 00:35:10,800 | 00:35:16,076 | so every time they dive, there might be something new exposed. | so every time they dive, there might be something new exposed. |
699 | 00:35:16,100 | 00:35:19,376 | The group dive around once a month. | The group dive around once a month. |
700 | 00:35:19,400 | 00:35:21,509 | Because the seabed is constantly moving, | Because the seabed is constantly moving, |
701 | 00:35:21,533 | 00:35:25,476 | it's impossible to predict whether they'll find anything. | it's impossible to predict whether they'll find anything. |
702 | 00:35:25,500 | 00:35:27,476 | Perhaps the most eye-catching of the finds | Perhaps the most eye-catching of the finds |
703 | 00:35:27,500 | 00:35:29,776 | so far examined at the British Museum | so far examined at the British Museum |
704 | 00:35:29,800 | 00:35:33,243 | is the exquisite jewelry. | is the exquisite jewelry. |
705 | 00:35:33,267 | 00:35:36,709 | Usually when we find Bronze Age gold from this time, | Usually when we find Bronze Age gold from this time, |
706 | 00:35:36,733 | 00:35:39,509 | somewhere about just over 3,000 years ago, | somewhere about just over 3,000 years ago, |
707 | 00:35:39,533 | 00:35:42,343 | we find relatively simple gold objects. | we find relatively simple gold objects. |
708 | 00:35:42,367 | 00:35:45,043 | So for instance, here you have a fragment | So for instance, here you have a fragment |
709 | 00:35:45,067 | 00:35:47,709 | of what would have been a twisted gold neck ring, | of what would have been a twisted gold neck ring, |
710 | 00:35:47,733 | 00:35:50,443 | where you take your gold bar and you twist it. | where you take your gold bar and you twist it. |
711 | 00:35:50,467 | 00:35:53,676 | Similarly, you have gold bracelets. | Similarly, you have gold bracelets. |
712 | 00:35:53,700 | 00:35:55,309 | These are solid-bar bracelets. | These are solid-bar bracelets. |
713 | 00:35:55,333 | 00:35:57,043 | They've just taken a bar of gold, | They've just taken a bar of gold, |
714 | 00:35:57,067 | 00:35:59,376 | and they've just twisted it around the wrist. | and they've just twisted it around the wrist. |
715 | 00:35:59,400 | 00:36:02,176 | What this means is that these bracelets here | What this means is that these bracelets here |
716 | 00:36:02,200 | 00:36:06,109 | are just far in excess of anything that had come before. | are just far in excess of anything that had come before. |
717 | 00:36:06,133 | 00:36:08,909 | Here you have eight strands of gold wire | Here you have eight strands of gold wire |
718 | 00:36:08,933 | 00:36:10,643 | that have been twisted on their own | that have been twisted on their own |
719 | 00:36:10,667 | 00:36:12,343 | and then bound together | and then bound together |
720 | 00:36:12,367 | 00:36:13,843 | to create this stunning little bracelet | to create this stunning little bracelet |
721 | 00:36:13,867 | 00:36:16,076 | which, when it came off the seabed, | which, when it came off the seabed, |
722 | 00:36:16,100 | 00:36:17,909 | was just perfectly coiled. | was just perfectly coiled. |
723 | 00:36:17,933 | 00:36:20,643 | These represent the absolute pinnacle | These represent the absolute pinnacle |
724 | 00:36:20,667 | 00:36:22,297 | of Bronze Age goldworking. | of Bronze Age goldworking. |
725 | 00:36:24,767 | 00:36:27,576 | So, what we've got here is this small group of divers | So, what we've got here is this small group of divers |
726 | 00:36:27,600 | 00:36:29,876 | who are spending all their free time | who are spending all their free time |
727 | 00:36:29,900 | 00:36:33,243 | combing the seabed down here in South Devon, | combing the seabed down here in South Devon, |
728 | 00:36:33,267 | 00:36:36,509 | and they're making really significant discoveries | and they're making really significant discoveries |
729 | 00:36:36,533 | 00:36:39,343 | that are helping us to understand the Bronze Age | that are helping us to understand the Bronze Age |
730 | 00:36:39,367 | 00:36:41,667 | that little bit better. | that little bit better. |
731 | 00:36:43,200 | 00:36:46,709 | Both the divers and Ben have reached the same conclusion | Both the divers and Ben have reached the same conclusion |
732 | 00:36:46,733 | 00:36:49,943 | about why these objects are here. | about why these objects are here. |
733 | 00:36:49,967 | 00:36:51,576 | Although we're still finding objects | Although we're still finding objects |
734 | 00:36:51,600 | 00:36:53,576 | and the story's still being written, | and the story's still being written, |
735 | 00:36:53,600 | 00:36:55,576 | I think this is probably a shipwreck. | I think this is probably a shipwreck. |
736 | 00:36:55,600 | 00:36:58,043 | And I say that because we're finding things | And I say that because we're finding things |
737 | 00:36:58,067 | 00:37:00,876 | that we don't normally find on land | that we don't normally find on land |
738 | 00:37:00,900 | 00:37:02,143 | and we don't normally find | and we don't normally find |
739 | 00:37:02,167 | 00:37:04,476 | when they've been deliberately placed in rivers | when they've been deliberately placed in rivers |
740 | 00:37:04,500 | 00:37:07,770 | and deliberately placed in bogs, as we have all over Britain. | and deliberately placed in bogs, as we have all over Britain. |
741 | 00:37:09,800 | 00:37:11,243 | The group have discovered | The group have discovered |
742 | 00:37:11,267 | 00:37:14,276 | one of the oldest shipwrecks in Britain. | one of the oldest shipwrecks in Britain. |
743 | 00:37:14,300 | 00:37:17,943 | No remains of the ship itself have been found, | No remains of the ship itself have been found, |
744 | 00:37:17,967 | 00:37:22,376 | but most of the objects were probably its cargo. | but most of the objects were probably its cargo. |
745 | 00:37:22,400 | 00:37:25,476 | But there's a mystery here too. | But there's a mystery here too. |
746 | 00:37:25,500 | 00:37:30,609 | The majority of the objects date to around 2,300 B.C., | The majority of the objects date to around 2,300 B.C., |
747 | 00:37:30,633 | 00:37:33,933 | but some date to a few centuries later. | but some date to a few centuries later. |
748 | 00:37:35,567 | 00:37:38,609 | Ben has been trying to work out why this could be. | Ben has been trying to work out why this could be. |
749 | 00:37:38,633 | 00:37:41,209 | I think there's only two ways that you can really explain | I think there's only two ways that you can really explain |
750 | 00:37:41,233 | 00:37:44,743 | why these objects ended up off the south coast of Devon | why these objects ended up off the south coast of Devon |
751 | 00:37:44,767 | 00:37:46,276 | in the same place. | in the same place. |
752 | 00:37:46,300 | 00:37:50,843 | And one is a shipwreck, um, or maybe two shipwrecks, | And one is a shipwreck, um, or maybe two shipwrecks, |
753 | 00:37:50,867 | 00:37:53,776 | and the other one is to say they were deliberately placed there. | and the other one is to say they were deliberately placed there. |
754 | 00:37:53,800 | 00:37:55,943 | So we have this tradition in the Bronze Age | So we have this tradition in the Bronze Age |
755 | 00:37:55,967 | 00:37:58,676 | of placing bronze and gold objects | of placing bronze and gold objects |
756 | 00:37:58,700 | 00:38:00,243 | in special points in the landscape | in special points in the landscape |
757 | 00:38:00,267 | 00:38:02,943 | such as hillsides or in bogs and springs. | such as hillsides or in bogs and springs. |
758 | 00:38:02,967 | 00:38:06,276 | So it's possible that it was a combination of the two, | So it's possible that it was a combination of the two, |
759 | 00:38:06,300 | 00:38:09,109 | with one taking place slightly earlier as a shipwreck | with one taking place slightly earlier as a shipwreck |
760 | 00:38:09,133 | 00:38:11,509 | and one potentially later as a dedication. | and one potentially later as a dedication. |
761 | 00:38:11,533 | 00:38:13,303 | It's really hard to say. | It's really hard to say. |
762 | 00:38:14,533 | 00:38:17,943 | So the objects with the later dates may have been an offering | So the objects with the later dates may have been an offering |
763 | 00:38:17,967 | 00:38:19,809 | thrown into the sea | thrown into the sea |
764 | 00:38:19,833 | 00:38:22,909 | in remembrance of that original shipwreck. | in remembrance of that original shipwreck. |
765 | 00:38:22,933 | 00:38:26,309 | It's a touching thought. | It's a touching thought. |
766 | 00:38:26,333 | 00:38:29,509 | Although the gold objects found by the divers | Although the gold objects found by the divers |
767 | 00:38:29,533 | 00:38:32,143 | are the most beautiful and striking, | are the most beautiful and striking, |
768 | 00:38:32,167 | 00:38:35,209 | they are not the most important of the finds. | they are not the most important of the finds. |
769 | 00:38:35,233 | 00:38:40,373 | Instead, it's some much more mundane lumps of tin. | Instead, it's some much more mundane lumps of tin. |
770 | 00:38:42,467 | 00:38:47,409 | These ingots that we have... absolutely the first tin ingots | These ingots that we have... absolutely the first tin ingots |
771 | 00:38:47,433 | 00:38:50,209 | that have ever been found in the Bronze Age in northern Europe. | that have ever been found in the Bronze Age in northern Europe. |
772 | 00:38:50,233 | 00:38:51,743 | Very exciting for me. | Very exciting for me. |
773 | 00:38:51,767 | 00:38:53,743 | I understand not necessarily aesthetically beautiful | I understand not necessarily aesthetically beautiful |
774 | 00:38:53,767 | 00:38:56,643 | for everyone else, but nonetheless very exciting. | for everyone else, but nonetheless very exciting. |
775 | 00:38:56,667 | 00:38:59,709 | The tin ingot represents this missing link | The tin ingot represents this missing link |
776 | 00:38:59,733 | 00:39:01,243 | in our Bronze Age world | in our Bronze Age world |
777 | 00:39:01,267 | 00:39:02,843 | between the finished bronze objects | between the finished bronze objects |
778 | 00:39:02,867 | 00:39:05,376 | that we have here, the bronze ingots. | that we have here, the bronze ingots. |
779 | 00:39:05,400 | 00:39:09,443 | So it's these that represent our first evidence of the tin trade | So it's these that represent our first evidence of the tin trade |
780 | 00:39:09,467 | 00:39:10,909 | in this part of the world. | in this part of the world. |
781 | 00:39:10,933 | 00:39:12,476 | So it's these, for an archaeologist, | So it's these, for an archaeologist, |
782 | 00:39:12,500 | 00:39:16,700 | that are actually more exciting even than the gold. | that are actually more exciting even than the gold. |
783 | 00:39:18,367 | 00:39:21,409 | Archaeologists have long suspected that the South West, | Archaeologists have long suspected that the South West, |
784 | 00:39:21,433 | 00:39:23,676 | with its naturally occurring tin ore, | with its naturally occurring tin ore, |
785 | 00:39:23,700 | 00:39:25,176 | would have played a central role | would have played a central role |
786 | 00:39:25,200 | 00:39:28,576 | in supplying this raw material across Europe. | in supplying this raw material across Europe. |
787 | 00:39:28,600 | 00:39:31,743 | This is the crucial evidence they've been waiting for, | This is the crucial evidence they've been waiting for, |
788 | 00:39:31,767 | 00:39:34,627 | found by our amateur team. | found by our amateur team. |
789 | 00:39:35,800 | 00:39:38,243 | Those bubbles coming up there mean there's a couple of divers | Those bubbles coming up there mean there's a couple of divers |
790 | 00:39:38,267 | 00:39:41,376 | just about to break the surface, which is very exciting. | just about to break the surface, which is very exciting. |
791 | 00:39:41,400 | 00:39:43,230 | I wonder what they've found. | I wonder what they've found. |
792 | 00:39:46,500 | 00:39:48,209 | - Hello, Mick. - Hi. | - Hello, Mick. - Hi. |
793 | 00:39:48,233 | 00:39:50,809 | - Welcome back. - Ohh! | - Welcome back. - Ohh! |
794 | 00:39:50,833 | 00:39:52,343 | Welcome. | Welcome. |
795 | 00:39:52,367 | 00:39:54,809 | Did you find anything? | Did you find anything? |
796 | 00:39:54,833 | 00:39:56,573 | An old bullet. | An old bullet. |
797 | 00:40:00,467 | 00:40:02,143 | It's not Bronze Age, is it, Mick. | It's not Bronze Age, is it, Mick. |
798 | 00:40:02,167 | 00:40:04,067 | No. | No. |
799 | 00:40:04,833 | 00:40:07,633 | That's very disappointing. | That's very disappointing. |
800 | 00:40:15,800 | 00:40:17,176 | Well, they didn't find anything today, | Well, they didn't find anything today, |
801 | 00:40:17,200 | 00:40:21,543 | but undoubtedly there's more of this Bronze Age shipwreck | but undoubtedly there's more of this Bronze Age shipwreck |
802 | 00:40:21,567 | 00:40:24,243 | to come to light here, and of course what we're looking at | to come to light here, and of course what we're looking at |
803 | 00:40:24,267 | 00:40:26,543 | is a 3,000-year-old tragedy. | is a 3,000-year-old tragedy. |
804 | 00:40:26,567 | 00:40:29,709 | Imagine this boat laden with tin and copper ingots | Imagine this boat laden with tin and copper ingots |
805 | 00:40:29,733 | 00:40:31,376 | making its way along the coast here, | making its way along the coast here, |
806 | 00:40:31,400 | 00:40:34,476 | and perhaps they were just in sight of a safe harbor | and perhaps they were just in sight of a safe harbor |
807 | 00:40:34,500 | 00:40:36,476 | when disaster struck. | when disaster struck. |
808 | 00:40:36,500 | 00:40:39,409 | We'll never know whether the crew managed to survive, | We'll never know whether the crew managed to survive, |
809 | 00:40:39,433 | 00:40:42,876 | but their precious cargo of copper and tin | but their precious cargo of copper and tin |
810 | 00:40:42,900 | 00:40:45,900 | was claimed by the sea. | was claimed by the sea. |
811 | 00:40:49,133 | 00:40:51,443 | We started our million-year journey | We started our million-year journey |
812 | 00:40:51,467 | 00:40:57,243 | with finds of rudimentary flint tools made by ancient hominids. | with finds of rudimentary flint tools made by ancient hominids. |
813 | 00:40:57,267 | 00:40:59,176 | As we've traveled forward through time | As we've traveled forward through time |
814 | 00:40:59,200 | 00:41:02,043 | to discover this complex trading society, | to discover this complex trading society, |
815 | 00:41:02,067 | 00:41:05,309 | everything has become more familiar. | everything has become more familiar. |
816 | 00:41:05,333 | 00:41:08,443 | What strikes me is that in our prehistory | What strikes me is that in our prehistory |
817 | 00:41:08,467 | 00:41:11,876 | are quite clearly the roots of what we think of today | are quite clearly the roots of what we think of today |
818 | 00:41:11,900 | 00:41:15,970 | as our culture, our way of life. | as our culture, our way of life. |
819 | 00:41:18,667 | 00:41:21,843 | And what really brought that home were some discoveries | And what really brought that home were some discoveries |
820 | 00:41:21,867 | 00:41:24,043 | made in the grave of a chieftain | made in the grave of a chieftain |
821 | 00:41:24,067 | 00:41:27,476 | in Forteviot in Scotland last year. | in Forteviot in Scotland last year. |
822 | 00:41:27,500 | 00:41:32,076 | When Howard Carter opened Tutankhamun's tomb, | When Howard Carter opened Tutankhamun's tomb, |
823 | 00:41:32,100 | 00:41:38,043 | he reportedly said, "I see things, wonderful things!" | he reportedly said, "I see things, wonderful things!" |
824 | 00:41:38,067 | 00:41:39,243 | This is what really happens | This is what really happens |
825 | 00:41:39,267 | 00:41:42,967 | when archaeologists make those amazing discoveries. | when archaeologists make those amazing discoveries. |
826 | 00:41:48,800 | 00:41:50,409 | [Bleep] me! | [Bleep] me! |
827 | 00:41:50,433 | 00:41:51,843 | [ Bleep ] | [ Bleep ] |
828 | 00:41:51,867 | 00:41:54,143 | Oh, my God! Oh! | Oh, my God! Oh! |
829 | 00:41:54,167 | 00:41:55,797 | Oh, my God. | Oh, my God. |
830 | 00:41:57,633 | 00:42:00,109 | This is the dramatic moment last year | This is the dramatic moment last year |
831 | 00:42:00,133 | 00:42:01,909 | when archaeologists filmed themselves | when archaeologists filmed themselves |
832 | 00:42:01,933 | 00:42:07,443 | as they lifted the capstone of a 4,000-year-old tomb. | as they lifted the capstone of a 4,000-year-old tomb. |
833 | 00:42:07,467 | 00:42:09,209 | It would change our understanding | It would change our understanding |
834 | 00:42:09,233 | 00:42:14,709 | of how Bronze Age people buried their loved ones. | of how Bronze Age people buried their loved ones. |
835 | 00:42:14,733 | 00:42:17,509 | After discovering the tomb with geophysics, | After discovering the tomb with geophysics, |
836 | 00:42:17,533 | 00:42:20,143 | archaeologists Kenny Brophy and his team | archaeologists Kenny Brophy and his team |
837 | 00:42:20,167 | 00:42:23,643 | had to wait a year to be able to open it. | had to wait a year to be able to open it. |
838 | 00:42:23,667 | 00:42:25,443 | - Oh, my God! - Got some metal. | - Oh, my God! - Got some metal. |
839 | 00:42:25,467 | 00:42:27,543 | This is cool as [bleep] | This is cool as [bleep] |
840 | 00:42:27,567 | 00:42:28,943 | We might have to bleep that out. | We might have to bleep that out. |
841 | 00:42:28,967 | 00:42:32,043 | Yes, well, there was a lot of excitement on site. | Yes, well, there was a lot of excitement on site. |
842 | 00:42:32,067 | 00:42:33,943 | This is an incredibly exciting moment in archaeology, | This is an incredibly exciting moment in archaeology, |
843 | 00:42:33,967 | 00:42:36,543 | isn't it, because a lot of archaeological excavation | isn't it, because a lot of archaeological excavation |
844 | 00:42:36,567 | 00:42:40,943 | is about painstakingly removing thin layers of soil, | is about painstakingly removing thin layers of soil, |
845 | 00:42:40,967 | 00:42:43,109 | very gradually uncovering things. | very gradually uncovering things. |
846 | 00:42:43,133 | 00:42:48,943 | This is a rather momentous uncovering of a grave. | This is a rather momentous uncovering of a grave. |
847 | 00:42:48,967 | 00:42:51,176 | It must be quite exciting to be standing there at the time. | It must be quite exciting to be standing there at the time. |
848 | 00:42:51,200 | 00:42:54,076 | It was. I mean, it was really a set-piece moment. | It was. I mean, it was really a set-piece moment. |
849 | 00:42:54,100 | 00:42:55,676 | There was a real sense that we just didn't know | There was a real sense that we just didn't know |
850 | 00:42:55,700 | 00:42:57,209 | what we were going to find, which is one of | what we were going to find, which is one of |
851 | 00:42:57,233 | 00:42:58,876 | the great excitements of archaeology, of course, | the great excitements of archaeology, of course, |
852 | 00:42:58,900 | 00:43:00,970 | but this really was a mystery. | but this really was a mystery. |
853 | 00:43:03,600 | 00:43:05,176 | Oh, for Christ's sake, we're having... | Oh, for Christ's sake, we're having... |
854 | 00:43:05,200 | 00:43:08,043 | The stone-lined grave, known as a cist, | The stone-lined grave, known as a cist, |
855 | 00:43:08,067 | 00:43:10,109 | held many treasures, | held many treasures, |
856 | 00:43:10,133 | 00:43:11,743 | and it would prove to be the grave | and it would prove to be the grave |
857 | 00:43:11,767 | 00:43:14,367 | of a Bronze Age chieftain. | of a Bronze Age chieftain. |
858 | 00:43:16,433 | 00:43:19,176 | But there was one big surprise. | But there was one big surprise. |
859 | 00:43:19,200 | 00:43:22,430 | No sign of his body remained. | No sign of his body remained. |
860 | 00:43:24,133 | 00:43:25,576 | This is really peculiar, isn't it? | This is really peculiar, isn't it? |
861 | 00:43:25,600 | 00:43:28,576 | You've taken this stone off the top of this cist burial, | You've taken this stone off the top of this cist burial, |
862 | 00:43:28,600 | 00:43:31,376 | and you're confronted with objects | and you're confronted with objects |
863 | 00:43:31,400 | 00:43:32,843 | which are, you know, fantastic, | which are, you know, fantastic, |
864 | 00:43:32,867 | 00:43:34,743 | you know you've got organic remains. | you know you've got organic remains. |
865 | 00:43:34,767 | 00:43:36,309 | But there's no skeleton. | But there's no skeleton. |
866 | 00:43:36,333 | 00:43:38,176 | Well, that was the thing that immediately struck us, | Well, that was the thing that immediately struck us, |
867 | 00:43:38,200 | 00:43:40,076 | because I imagined in my mind's eye | because I imagined in my mind's eye |
868 | 00:43:40,100 | 00:43:42,543 | that when the cist was opened we would see a skeleton lying there | that when the cist was opened we would see a skeleton lying there |
869 | 00:43:42,567 | 00:43:44,409 | maybe with a nice piece of pottery next to it. | maybe with a nice piece of pottery next to it. |
870 | 00:43:44,433 | 00:43:47,043 | And nothing I saw conformed to anything that I expected. | And nothing I saw conformed to anything that I expected. |
871 | 00:43:47,067 | 00:43:52,743 | But the team did recover this mysterious white material. | But the team did recover this mysterious white material. |
872 | 00:43:52,767 | 00:43:54,709 | One thing that we did notice when we were digging | One thing that we did notice when we were digging |
873 | 00:43:54,733 | 00:43:56,543 | was that there was a kind of white powder | was that there was a kind of white powder |
874 | 00:43:56,567 | 00:43:59,043 | stuck to the side of the cist. | stuck to the side of the cist. |
875 | 00:43:59,067 | 00:44:02,509 | It was this powder that would solve the mystery | It was this powder that would solve the mystery |
876 | 00:44:02,533 | 00:44:05,076 | of the missing skeleton. | of the missing skeleton. |
877 | 00:44:05,100 | 00:44:07,143 | We found that it is some kind of calcite substance, | We found that it is some kind of calcite substance, |
878 | 00:44:07,167 | 00:44:09,676 | which would suggest it came from bone, | which would suggest it came from bone, |
879 | 00:44:09,700 | 00:44:12,276 | and that bone was perhaps broken down by body fluids | and that bone was perhaps broken down by body fluids |
880 | 00:44:12,300 | 00:44:14,343 | that were leaking from the body, | that were leaking from the body, |
881 | 00:44:14,367 | 00:44:15,943 | and then the bones all dissolved. | and then the bones all dissolved. |
882 | 00:44:15,967 | 00:44:18,309 | Right, so this is bone mineral, | Right, so this is bone mineral, |
883 | 00:44:18,333 | 00:44:20,409 | but bone mineral that's been dissolved | but bone mineral that's been dissolved |
884 | 00:44:20,433 | 00:44:22,443 | and then redeposited inside that grave. | and then redeposited inside that grave. |
885 | 00:44:22,467 | 00:44:23,943 | - Essentially, yes. - Yeah. | - Essentially, yes. - Yeah. |
886 | 00:44:23,967 | 00:44:26,209 | - And this is all that's left? - Yeah, this is all that's left. | - And this is all that's left? - Yeah, this is all that's left. |
887 | 00:44:26,233 | 00:44:28,209 | So, essentially that bag of material there | So, essentially that bag of material there |
888 | 00:44:28,233 | 00:44:29,776 | is probably the only remnants that are left | is probably the only remnants that are left |
889 | 00:44:29,800 | 00:44:31,443 | of the person who was buried in this cist, | of the person who was buried in this cist, |
890 | 00:44:31,467 | 00:44:36,167 | which is, I suppose, a sad end, really, to this person. | which is, I suppose, a sad end, really, to this person. |
891 | 00:44:38,233 | 00:44:40,409 | From almost the first moment, | From almost the first moment, |
892 | 00:44:40,433 | 00:44:44,176 | the team suspected they had a high-status burial, | the team suspected they had a high-status burial, |
893 | 00:44:44,200 | 00:44:47,409 | and one key find confirmed that... | and one key find confirmed that... |
894 | 00:44:47,433 | 00:44:50,543 | this magnificent dagger. | this magnificent dagger. |
895 | 00:44:50,567 | 00:44:52,243 | This is very elaborate, isn't it? | This is very elaborate, isn't it? |
896 | 00:44:52,267 | 00:44:55,043 | It's a fantastic piece of Bronze Age technology | It's a fantastic piece of Bronze Age technology |
897 | 00:44:55,067 | 00:44:58,709 | involving a large blade of bronze, | involving a large blade of bronze, |
898 | 00:44:58,733 | 00:45:00,276 | which is a copper and tin alloy, | which is a copper and tin alloy, |
899 | 00:45:00,300 | 00:45:03,309 | rivets holding it together, a bone handle, | rivets holding it together, a bone handle, |
900 | 00:45:03,333 | 00:45:05,476 | a band of gold which is holding it all together. | a band of gold which is holding it all together. |
901 | 00:45:05,500 | 00:45:07,309 | There's wooden pins involved here as well. | There's wooden pins involved here as well. |
902 | 00:45:07,333 | 00:45:09,043 | So this is an object that's not just about | So this is an object that's not just about |
903 | 00:45:09,067 | 00:45:10,043 | the metal of the dagger. | the metal of the dagger. |
904 | 00:45:10,067 | 00:45:11,343 | It's about so much more than that. | It's about so much more than that. |
905 | 00:45:11,367 | 00:45:15,667 | This is a really beautiful, elaborate object. | This is a really beautiful, elaborate object. |
906 | 00:45:17,500 | 00:45:18,743 | The sheer rarity of these | The sheer rarity of these |
907 | 00:45:18,767 | 00:45:19,909 | in the archaeological record | in the archaeological record |
908 | 00:45:19,933 | 00:45:21,409 | suggests that what we're dealing with here | suggests that what we're dealing with here |
909 | 00:45:21,433 | 00:45:23,109 | is someone who was very important | is someone who was very important |
910 | 00:45:23,133 | 00:45:25,509 | and someone who this dagger, perhaps, | and someone who this dagger, perhaps, |
911 | 00:45:25,533 | 00:45:27,809 | was a symbol of their power and symbol of their importance. | was a symbol of their power and symbol of their importance. |
912 | 00:45:27,833 | 00:45:29,743 | So it was entirely appropriate that when they died, | So it was entirely appropriate that when they died, |
913 | 00:45:29,767 | 00:45:31,897 | that ended up in the grave with them. | that ended up in the grave with them. |
914 | 00:45:33,067 | 00:45:36,509 | After the initial discovery, it's back here at the lab | After the initial discovery, it's back here at the lab |
915 | 00:45:36,533 | 00:45:38,643 | that most of the work has been done | that most of the work has been done |
916 | 00:45:38,667 | 00:45:42,309 | to identify the objects found in the grave. | to identify the objects found in the grave. |
917 | 00:45:42,333 | 00:45:45,843 | We found a group of objects that were perhaps in a leather bag, | We found a group of objects that were perhaps in a leather bag, |
918 | 00:45:45,867 | 00:45:49,209 | and these include these strange-looking objects here. | and these include these strange-looking objects here. |
919 | 00:45:49,233 | 00:45:51,376 | A lump of a metallic substance | A lump of a metallic substance |
920 | 00:45:51,400 | 00:45:54,309 | which is iron ore called limonite, a yellow iron ore, | which is iron ore called limonite, a yellow iron ore, |
921 | 00:45:54,333 | 00:45:57,109 | and then it's lying on top of this stone tool | and then it's lying on top of this stone tool |
922 | 00:45:57,133 | 00:45:58,743 | which is made of flint. | which is made of flint. |
923 | 00:45:58,767 | 00:46:01,509 | These objects served a very particular purpose | These objects served a very particular purpose |
924 | 00:46:01,533 | 00:46:03,376 | in the Bronze Age. | in the Bronze Age. |
925 | 00:46:03,400 | 00:46:05,109 | The combination of these two | The combination of these two |
926 | 00:46:05,133 | 00:46:08,343 | suggest that this is probably some kind of fire-making kit. | suggest that this is probably some kind of fire-making kit. |
927 | 00:46:08,367 | 00:46:10,843 | A strike-a-ight that maybe was something portable | A strike-a-ight that maybe was something portable |
928 | 00:46:10,867 | 00:46:12,276 | that could be carried about. | that could be carried about. |
929 | 00:46:12,300 | 00:46:14,343 | And, Kenny, do you think a fire-making kit like this | And, Kenny, do you think a fire-making kit like this |
930 | 00:46:14,367 | 00:46:15,843 | would have been something that everybody | would have been something that everybody |
931 | 00:46:15,867 | 00:46:17,176 | would have been carrying around | would have been carrying around |
932 | 00:46:17,200 | 00:46:18,909 | or just particular special people? | or just particular special people? |
933 | 00:46:18,933 | 00:46:21,376 | The balance of probability is that these were objects | The balance of probability is that these were objects |
934 | 00:46:21,400 | 00:46:22,876 | associated with powerful people. | associated with powerful people. |
935 | 00:46:22,900 | 00:46:24,309 | Perhaps making fire was something | Perhaps making fire was something |
936 | 00:46:24,333 | 00:46:26,176 | that powerful people were associated with. | that powerful people were associated with. |
937 | 00:46:26,200 | 00:46:27,509 | But we can't rule out the fact | But we can't rule out the fact |
938 | 00:46:27,533 | 00:46:29,576 | that these may be everyday objects | that these may be everyday objects |
939 | 00:46:29,600 | 00:46:31,943 | that everyone had 'cause everyone needed fire. | that everyone had 'cause everyone needed fire. |
940 | 00:46:31,967 | 00:46:34,543 | We know exactly what it was used for, | We know exactly what it was used for, |
941 | 00:46:34,567 | 00:46:38,343 | but we're not sure whether that use was a special magical use | but we're not sure whether that use was a special magical use |
942 | 00:46:38,367 | 00:46:40,276 | or perhaps whether it's something as ordinary | or perhaps whether it's something as ordinary |
943 | 00:46:40,300 | 00:46:42,343 | as a box of matches. | as a box of matches. |
944 | 00:46:42,367 | 00:46:44,809 | All we know is that the people burying this person | All we know is that the people burying this person |
945 | 00:46:44,833 | 00:46:47,209 | thought he should have it with him in the grave. | thought he should have it with him in the grave. |
946 | 00:46:47,233 | 00:46:48,803 | Yes, yeah. | Yes, yeah. |
947 | 00:46:54,567 | 00:46:58,709 | But for me, the most exciting finds from this grave | But for me, the most exciting finds from this grave |
948 | 00:46:58,733 | 00:47:02,133 | are also the smallest ones. | are also the smallest ones. |
949 | 00:47:07,733 | 00:47:09,373 | And there they are. | And there they are. |
950 | 00:47:14,300 | 00:47:16,909 | In amongst those objects in the grave, | In amongst those objects in the grave, |
951 | 00:47:16,933 | 00:47:21,933 | archaeologists also found these tiny things. | archaeologists also found these tiny things. |
952 | 00:47:22,967 | 00:47:24,597 | They're flower heads. | They're flower heads. |
953 | 00:47:27,800 | 00:47:30,676 | Now, archaeologists often find pollen in graves, | Now, archaeologists often find pollen in graves, |
954 | 00:47:30,700 | 00:47:33,709 | but pollen could get there because it's blown in | but pollen could get there because it's blown in |
955 | 00:47:33,733 | 00:47:37,043 | or perhaps arrives in the grave in food and drink | or perhaps arrives in the grave in food and drink |
956 | 00:47:37,067 | 00:47:39,727 | that had been placed in there with the body. | that had been placed in there with the body. |
957 | 00:47:40,700 | 00:47:44,709 | But here what we have is actual flower heads of meadowsweet. | But here what we have is actual flower heads of meadowsweet. |
958 | 00:47:44,733 | 00:47:48,543 | So we know for the first time that Bronze Age people | So we know for the first time that Bronze Age people |
959 | 00:47:48,567 | 00:47:51,443 | placed flowers in the graves of their dead, | placed flowers in the graves of their dead, |
960 | 00:47:51,467 | 00:47:54,909 | that flowers were part of the Bronze Age funeral ritual | that flowers were part of the Bronze Age funeral ritual |
961 | 00:47:54,933 | 00:47:57,073 | just as they are today. | just as they are today. |
962 | 00:48:05,600 | 00:48:07,409 | This is a piece of meadowsweet | This is a piece of meadowsweet |
963 | 00:48:07,433 | 00:48:10,043 | just waiting to flower in the summer. | just waiting to flower in the summer. |
964 | 00:48:10,067 | 00:48:12,109 | So we know that whoever it was | So we know that whoever it was |
965 | 00:48:12,133 | 00:48:14,843 | that was interred in that grave at Forteviot, | that was interred in that grave at Forteviot, |
966 | 00:48:14,867 | 00:48:18,143 | he was buried there during the summer months. | he was buried there during the summer months. |
967 | 00:48:18,167 | 00:48:21,576 | And I just find it amazing that something so ephemeral, | And I just find it amazing that something so ephemeral, |
968 | 00:48:21,600 | 00:48:23,043 | those flower heads, | those flower heads, |
969 | 00:48:23,067 | 00:48:26,509 | have survived through thousands of years. | have survived through thousands of years. |
970 | 00:48:26,533 | 00:48:28,143 | And whilst the physical remains, | And whilst the physical remains, |
971 | 00:48:28,167 | 00:48:31,876 | the bones of that person, have long since disappeared, | the bones of that person, have long since disappeared, |
972 | 00:48:31,900 | 00:48:36,476 | what we have got is the evidence of this incredibly tender act | what we have got is the evidence of this incredibly tender act |
973 | 00:48:36,500 | 00:48:39,543 | of placing flowers in somebody's grave. | of placing flowers in somebody's grave. |
974 | 00:48:39,567 | 00:48:43,109 | It's something that gives us a real sense of connection back | It's something that gives us a real sense of connection back |
975 | 00:48:43,133 | 00:48:45,673 | to those Bronze Age people. | to those Bronze Age people. |
976 | 00:48:48,833 | 00:48:50,709 | In our million-year journey, | In our million-year journey, |
977 | 00:48:50,733 | 00:48:52,809 | we've found out that our history | we've found out that our history |
978 | 00:48:52,833 | 00:48:57,709 | goes back much further than we ever thought possible. | goes back much further than we ever thought possible. |
979 | 00:48:57,733 | 00:49:02,776 | And we've seen that, over time, a complex society emerged | And we've seen that, over time, a complex society emerged |
980 | 00:49:02,800 | 00:49:07,776 | in which the foundation stones of our own can be found. | in which the foundation stones of our own can be found. |
981 | 00:49:07,800 | 00:49:11,843 | We've discovered a rich culture that has developed | We've discovered a rich culture that has developed |
982 | 00:49:11,867 | 00:49:13,643 | since those ice age artists | since those ice age artists |
983 | 00:49:13,667 | 00:49:16,667 | first left their mark in the caves. | first left their mark in the caves. |
984 | 00:49:18,467 | 00:49:21,809 | And what this journey shows us is that our prehistory | And what this journey shows us is that our prehistory |
985 | 00:49:21,833 | 00:49:24,876 | is still a part of who we are today. | is still a part of who we are today. |
986 | 00:49:24,900 | 00:49:28,209 | And it's a part of our story that's only revealed | And it's a part of our story that's only revealed |
987 | 00:49:28,233 | 00:49:29,843 | with the help of archaeology. | with the help of archaeology. |
988 | 00:49:29,867 | 00:49:32,967 | And so the digging continues. | And so the digging continues. |