Extreme Archaeology

★ 8 · 2004 · 45m · Documentary

A new Channel 4 series takes archaeology to the edge this summer as a team of experts tackles sites across the country that are beyond the reach of normal investigations. In Extreme Archaeology, an eight-part series starting on 20 June, a team of archaeologists with help from top climbers, cavers and divers investigates amazing and unique archaeological sites throughout the UK. Many archaeological locations are beyond the reach of your average archaeologist. They are found in inaccessible caves, on treacherous cliffs, deep under water, or in locations simply too remote or dangerous for normal investigation. Their remoteness often means that their secrets are unique, but they can also be under threat from erosion or other factors and this adds a rescue element to any investigation. Using some of the most advanced scientific equipment available, and high-tech miniature cameras and communication systems to record the action, Extreme Archaeology's experts are dropped into extreme and inaccessible environments under time and other pressures that test their personal and professional skills to the limit.

Episodes

▶1. Bridge on the River Wye45m · The team travel to the river Wye to investigate a strange formation that only appears at low tide. Conditions are a terrible combination of sucking mud and extreme tides. The team's goal is to confirm the formation they can see is part of a bridge built by the Romans during their invasion of Cornwall.▶2. Living on the Edge45m · The team travel to the Shetland Islands to visit a remote outcrop known as the Kame of Isbister that has a series of enigmatic structures. They are the first archaeological team ever to investigate the crumbling headland, and with the fast rate of erosion possibly the last. They hope to prove the settlement was either a Monastic retreat or a leper colony. What they discover surprises everyone.▶3. Cannibals and Cavemen45m · The team travels to Culzean Castle in Scotland. Built on a headland the castle stands over a series of caves whose occupation and use remains unclear. The team discovers human remains and legends of cannibals inhabiting the caves resurface. Undaunted the team continues their work eventually unraveling the story of the remains, and the source of much of the human activity evident in the caves.▶4. Parys Mountain45m · The team travels to Parys Mountain on the island of Anglesey. They will investigate if a connection between two bronze aged copper mines can be found. Their efforts will be complicated by the crumbling nature of the workings. Only recently pumped dry the expectation is the whole Bronze Age mine operation will collapse in on itself in a matter of months. This is the ultimate one shot expedition.▶5. The Tintagel Connection45m · Tintagel a rocky outcrop on the Cornish coast has long been associated with the legends of King Arthur. The team needs to negotiate the rocky cliff faces to discover the truth about the site. Can they find evidence of inhabitation between the occupation of the Romans and the medieval conquest by the English?▶6. Bay of Bones45m · In south west Wales the chance discovery of ancient coffins weathering out of a cliff face entice the team to examine who the graves belong to and how many people are actually buried in the area. As evidence is uncovered many of the team go through strange emotions as the truth about the site is revealed.▶7. Shetland Fortress45m · The team returns to the Shetland Islands, this time to investigate an iron age fortress known as Burgi Geos. Just getting the site proves a nightmare as the crew must cross some of the deepest peat bogs in Europe. As the team begins investigations it becomes more apparent that the site was far more than a simple fort. But why was there a community to protect in the first place.▶8. Death in Slaughter Stream45m · The team investigates a cave system recently discovered under the Forest of Dean on the border of England and South Wales. They are looking for ways to identify and date a series of bones possibly dating to the last ice age found over the last 13 years. Conditions are arduous and the expedition soon takes a heavy toll on a number of team members.

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