Digging for Britain

Overview
Dr. Alice Roberts embarks on a fascinating journey through the landscape of British archaeology, exploring a year’s worth of significant digs and discoveries across the nation. Each episode connects the dots between various archaeological endeavors, showcasing the rich history buried beneath the surface. With her engaging narrative, Roberts highlights the stories unearthed by dedicated teams of archaeologists, revealing how these findings contribute to our understanding of Britain’s past. Audiences are invited to witness the thrill of excavation and the insights that come from piecing together a complex historical tapestry.
Episodes
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1

The Romans
Roman discoveries include the unsettling case of 97 infants killed near the Thames, an impressive treasure trove of Roman coins unearthed in Somerset,...
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2

Prehistory
Her adventure spans from Orkney to Devon, traversing land, sea, and air. In Norfolk, new discoveries of flint tools extend the timeline of human pre...
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3

Anglo-Saxons
The Anglo-Saxons reshaped our territories and marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. Yet, were they merely savages? Dr. Alice Roberts embarks on an ...
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4

The Tudors
Title: The Tudors Plot: Alice Roberts uncovers fascinating new insights into the Tudor period as she explores archaeological sites, including the loc...
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1

Britannia
Title: Britannia Plot: This episode delves into Roman-era Britannia, uncovering the intriguing enigma surrounding the discovery of 97 infant skeleton...
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2

Invaders
The episode features a journey to Orkney, a place where Viking rule persisted longer than in any other part of Britain.
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3

Age of Bronze and Iron
Dr. Alice Roberts uncovers the nature of Britain prior to the Roman invasion, exploring its landscapes, cultures, and the lives of its inhabitants. Th...
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4

Ice and Stone
Dr. Alice Roberts embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries of our elusive Stone Age ancestors.
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1

West
Discoveries feature training trenches located on Salisbury Plain as well as high-end international products at Tintagel.
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2

North
Discoveries reveal artifacts from the earliest Roman siege in Britain, along with evidence of artificial islands created by the Scots.
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3

East
Among the discoveries is the theater where Shakespeare first showcased both Romeo and Juliet and Henry V.
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1

West
Title: West Plot: The exploration leads us to the very camp from which Vikings launched their incursions into Britain, revealing astonishing new insi...
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2

East
Title: East Plot: We discover the largest cache of Roman writing tablets in Britain, shedding light on the true nature of life in Roman London. Off K...
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3

North
Alice uncovers a collection of intact Roman writing tablets, swords, and household artifacts at Vindolanda, dating back to a period of turmoil in Brit...
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4

The Horsemen of Hadrian's Wall
In this captivating special, Professor Alice Roberts uncovers the untold tale of the Roman Army's hidden asset in Britain: their cavalry. These formid...
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1

North
Title: North Plot: Professor Alice Roberts highlights the most significant archaeological finds from the northern UK in 2018. Each excavation team ...
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2

West
Title: West Plot: Join Professor Alice Robert as she delves into this year's most thrilling archaeological discoveries from western Britain. Each fin...
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3

East
Professor Alice Roberts dives into this year's thrilling archaeological discoveries from Eastern Britain. Each find is captured on film by the archaeo...
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4

Iron Age Revealed
Alice Roberts explores the remarkable excavation of a stunning Iron Age burial site in East Yorkshire. A group of archaeologists has discovered the re...
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1

West
Professor Alice Roberts uncovers fascinating archaeological findings in the Cotswolds. At a hidden site that seems to be an elite Anglo-Saxon burial g...
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2

North
Archaeologists uncover surprising artifacts in what is believed to be Lady Jane Grey's childhood residence. Meanwhile, a Victorian workhouse cemetery ...
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3

South
A lobster played a surprising role in guiding archaeologists to an ancient Neolithic settlement that dates back 8,000 years. Meanwhile, Naoise Mac Swe...
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4

WWII Special
Title: WWII Quest Plot: The crew embarks on an exciting archaeological expedition, delving into the remnants of World War II. Their mission focuses o...
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1

East
Title: East Plot: The remarkable unearthing of a stunning mosaic has sparked immense enthusiasm among art historians, archaeologists, and Alice, as t...
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2

South
The southern region of England is a treasure trove, showcasing some of the first currency in Britain alongside a significant cache of Roman artifacts....
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3

North
Discover some of the finest archaeological treasures from northern Britain, featuring Scotland's earliest railway, a remarkably well-preserved Norman ...
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4

Midlands
Title: Midlands Plot: Exploring the remnants of a colossal Jurassic creature, delving into artifacts discovered in an Anglo-Saxon burial site, and ...
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5

West
An exciting new Roman settlement is uncovered, along with a multitude of artifacts. Researchers finally pinpoint the age of the Cerne Giant, while a l...
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6

North
Set against the backdrop of a Roman fort along Hadrian’s Wall, the episode explores early Pictish inscriptions in Scotland and uncovers a Bronze Age...
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1
Roman Towns and Tudor Shipwrecks
Excavations in southern England have uncovered a previously undiscovered Roman settlement, a Tudor-era ship entombed in a quarry, and artifacts indica...
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2
Arthur's Stone and a Georgian Mine
In the western part of the UK, there exists an incredible structure that predates Stonehenge, alongside a 200-year-old mine that feels frozen in time ...
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3
Headless Romans and Anglo Saxon Gold
A gatehouse marked by Civil War bullet holes, an extraordinary Iron Age shield crafted from bark, and Roman graves containing pots placed where the sk...
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4
Mystery Shipwreck and a Roman Army Camp
Alice Roberts uncovers the remains of a Dutch vessel that was sunk by the English, explores a Roman fort in Cornwall, and examines a Neolithic monumen...
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5
Roman Mosaics and Ancient Weapons
As Alice journeys east, she stumbles upon a converted Roman barn, uncovers a Tudor-era fort, and discovers intricately designed weapons that date back...
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6
Ice Age Camp and a Saint with Syphilis
Alice explores an Ice Age campsite in Scotland and northern England, delving into the enigma of a medieval skeleton while also uncovering the oldest i...
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1

The Roman Emperor’s Bathhouse
Excavations in northern Britain uncover a long-forgotten bathhouse of a Roman emperor, the submerged riches of medieval travelers, and an impressive f...
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2

Anglo-Saxon Gold and Rebellious Nuns
Title: Saxon Treasures and Defiant Sisters Plot: In the heart of England, an RAF base steeped in Roman history stands near an abandoned medieval conv...
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3

A Norman Panic Room and a Mesolithic Fish Trap
Title: A Norman Panic Room and a Mesolithic Fish Trap Plot: In western Britain, an extraordinary medieval graveyard is being threatened, alongside an...
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4

A Roman Mystery and Waterloo’s Disappearing Dead
Roberts uncovers some of this year's most intriguing archaeological discoveries in the East of England, including a Roman dodecahedron, the mysteries ...
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5

3000-Year-Old Shoes and Giant Axeheads
In southern England, archaeologists discover Britain’s oldest shoe, uncover the forgotten shipyard of one of the nation’s legendary warrior kings,...
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6

Forgotten Fortresses and Lost Villages
Excavations in Western Britain uncover a long-lost fortress precariously perched on a cliff’s edge, along with proof of Cardiff’s oldest residence...
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1

Saxon Gold and Buried Coins
In a remarkable episode of Digging for Britain, archaeologists uncover astonishing grave goods. Among the finds is a peculiar Roman sarcophagus packed...
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2

Dinosaur Highway and Roman Sauna
A stonecutter stumbles upon a series of enormous footprints, leading to an unexpected discovery of a stunning Roman villa complete with intricate mosa...
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3

Island Treasures
Journeying through Britain’s islands reveals a fascinating 5,000-year-old Neolithic burial site, a collaborative mission to preserve a World War I b...
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4

Roman Crime and Ancient DNA
At a bishop's palace, a remarkable discovery of gold is made, revealing a hidden Roman crime. Meanwhile, detectorists uncover an astonishing collectio...
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5

Chariots and Slaves
In the western part of Britain, archaeologists uncover one of the largest Roman structures ever found in the country. Additionally, an Iron Age chario...
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6

Lost Mansions and Impaled Prisoners
Title: Abandoned Estates and Bound Captives Plot: Remarkable excavations in the southern region unveil a Romani settlement nestled in the New Forest,...
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1
Scottish Massacre and 70s Skate Park
The episode showcases harrowing proof of a gruesome massacre that took place in the Scottish Highlands, alongside one of the biggest Roman burial site...
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2
Our Rarest Find and Biggest Dig
This episode showcases two exceptionally rare discoveries from an Iron Age hoard, offering a glimpse into the UK’s largest and most intricate excava...
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3
A Mysterious Bone Box and Admiral Nelson’s Favourite Ship
A collection of rare Anglo-Saxon swords leads to an intriguing investigation, paired with a haunting Roman bone box that raises questions about its pa...
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4
England’s Last Anglo-Saxon King and Scotland's First Whisky
The forgotten estate of Harold Godwinson, the final Anglo-Saxon monarch of England, features a perfectly preserved 4,000-year-old cremation urn and an...
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5
Medieval Murder and Roman Pets
Set against the backdrop of a sprawling first-century Roman estate, this episode explores the legendary warhorses that altered history, delves into a ...
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6
Episode 6