Archaeologists Uncover A Medieval Mass Grave | Digging For Britain | Unearthed History

The episode features archaeologists documenting their excavations, providing insights into Roman sieges, medieval hospitals and Stone Age discoveries. At Burns Hill in Duma, evidence suggests a Roman siege occurred, challenging previous beliefs about Roman invasion tactics in Britain. Furthermore, we also talk about the exploration of a medieval hospital site in Lincolnshire, which offers new perspectives on healthcare in the 12th century.
Welcome to Unearthed History -- the home for all things archaeological! From ancient Roman ruins to buried medieval mysteries, we'll be bringing you award-winning documentaries that explore the remnants of long lost civilizations.
Subscribe so you don't miss out.
Discover the past on History Hit, with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly and presented by world-renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code 'UNEARTHEDHISTORY': historyhit.com/subscription
To get in touch please email: [e-mail].
#UnearthedHistory #Archaeology #Documentary

[@margmorano2101]

When I was younger, I wanted to be an archeologist which unfortunately never happened, so I find these videos so interesting. Thank you from Canada!

[@gloriaturner3892]

Me too!! 😊

[@girlnorthof60]

Same here... from the Yukon 🍁

[@lilmike2710]

I wanted to be a paleontologist or a Geologist. I'm a truck driver today so obviously it didn't happen. But it's not from not trying.

[@girlnorthof60]

@@lilmike2710 Hey, nothing wrong with being a truck driver... you probably make better money & don't have a massive student loan looming over your head. Thank you for getting stuff where it needs to be.

[@BlaBla-pf8mf]

You can still be an archeologist, a volunteer archeologist that works without pay during summer holidays.

[@peterkruse788]

Prof Alice/gang , this is the greatest show ! I’m hooked

[@graceygrumble]

I remember being in the USA and was asked what my three wishes would be, in a ’let’s get to know everyone scenario’. I was called upon first. I opted for: The ability to time-travel in absolute safety, personally and without messing with established timelines. The ability to speak and write in any language that had ever, or ever would be, spoken and written. The ability to become invisible when I wanted. Other people opted for world peace, an end to hunger and a cure for all illnesses, which made me feel like a bit of a selfish shit. Sadly, I realise that I am indeed ’a bit of a selfish shit’. My three wishes remain the same. I mean, just imagine!

[@___FS___]

They were totally lying though

[@polyoptika4382]

those stone balls are all carved as if they’re meant to be used as weights for fishing nets.

[@annazaman9657]

Loved the whistling bullets!

[@monicacallesarenales5865]

I watched these program first time in England this year and now I will watch the rest of this serie cause I love it ❤️

[@glendamears3618]

Professor Alice has an easy listening voice that makes the amazing programs easy to watch. Thankyou 😊❤❤❤

[@davewilson9738]

When you consider that so many warring tribes and nations came here, it is no wonder we set out to colonise. Not saying we were right, but its in the DNA through most of Europe. Its just amazing.

[@polyoptika4382]

I agree. I’ve been curious for years what shifted us from cooperative to competitive, when we’ve always been under pressure. idk that it was the yamnaya, but I feel like they factor into the hard shift to war states somehow.

[@mmhthree]

All humans are/were warring tribes.

[@hyperboreanforeskin]

Europeans colonized because we had the right combination of high IQ and ingenuity.

[@helenhunter4540]

Dave Wilson. DNA is being used as an excuse for committing crimes against humanity. DNA doesn't make us do anything, neither crimes nor generosity. Those are people's choices.

[@hyperboreanforeskin]

@@helenhunter4540 That's not true at all. intellect and behavior are genetic.

[@gerbrand8132]

Those whistling lead bullets remind me of Junkers Ju87 from WW2. These planes dived towards their target and made a terrifying sound.

[@gregedmand9939]

Wow! We tend to dismiss a sling as a child's toy or a weapon used as last resort by primitive people. But in the right hands, these slung lead bullets were bone breakers. Against an enemy not wearing any significant armour, they would be devastating. Perhaps they haven't been found in great numbers before, is because lead is so useful, easy to pickup and recycle.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Well done

[@paulspice4717]

Specially trained men to fire slings, called, yes wait for it, slingers. Amazing

[@Watcher1852]

Thank you from Canada, SHARE,SHARE

[@nightlite9009]

I don't think we understand how devastating the dissolution of the monasteries must've been to the sick and the poor. When you see how important one monestary was to healthcare in that area, I think it must have been very difficult.

[@dereks1264]

"Pots In Lochs." This is my new band name.

[@girlnorthof60]

🤣 love it!

[@SilverDawnArrow]

With the deviant burial in Lincolnshire, it reminds me a lot of re-interred remains of people believed to be revenants. Tightly bound and face down to prevent them from rising again, and the decomposition evident in the legs could indicate re-burial.

[@evenitao2430]

You can be an archeologist at any age. I went to school in my 60s. You got my degree. You can do it at any time if history truly fascinates you

[@welshpete12]

I remember seeing a documentary on British television . In the 1970's where these balls with a hole in them . Were found on a hill fort in the south of England somewhere . I'm sorry I can't remember where . And a description of how they made a whistling noise when used with a catapult .

[@YvonneWatson-ff5ex]

I can’t remember who did the same thing with the bullets or maybe arrows that whistled but I’ve heard about it before. I’m thinking it was one of the native American tribes, but I could be mistaken. This video makes me remember what I loved so much about my Art History classes from so long ago.

[@nickharmer3049]

I'm so looking forward to this. Thank you very much 💯👏👏👏

[@margomoore4527]

R U sure those small shaped stones aren’t weights for fishing nets?

[@ajknaup3530]

I disagree with the hard & fast conclusion that the presence of lead sling ammo in & of itself means there was a siege. If the North & South camps were training camps, would there not also be such ammo about? Surely the slingers also needed to train?

[@jimellis2118]

To me, the inscribed round stone looks like it was once a perfect circle with an arbor hole, for sharpening or shaping ,on a spindle. Maybe the name is his brand

[@moonschildren]

Fascinating. The only thing missing is Phil!

[@hughbean6785]

Thanks Alice enjoyed this

[@carlacowling1789]

I think the whistling rocks are frickin TRACER BULLETS!!! If you've ever seen actual warfare with modern high powered ammunition, the enemy is targeted with tracer ammo. Today it's visible and lights up, but at that period it had to be based on sound!

[@Yourmomma92]

Good theory

[@A-H-MD-1976]

Love this channel ❤

[@MrTorleon]

Another well produced episode including some of the many digs in progress, as of 2017 - if I heard that correctly !!! Only one or two observations I would make. With Scottish lochs - I was slightly astonished that no thought was given ( apparently ) to the water level being substantially lower than today, which would make the building of the central mound a radically different proposition. I was also somewhat dissapointed to hear the words ' Anglo Saxon Invasion ' - an event which has been roundly discredited these days, through archeology and dna analysis, in favour of a more gradual movement of peoples from the continent. Other than that pretty good - and Prof. Alice holds it all together with consummate ease :)

[@alanatolstad4824]

Wow, just Wow!

[@havingalook2]

So interesting

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@cordellseitz7741]

It’s an interesting place where perhaps many people once lived there

[@rachelkoiks]

Oooh that whistle. I swear wasn’t that same sound effect in Gladiator? But for the arrows or something. This is pretty sick.

[@FlamingBasketballClub]

Professor Alice Roberts is doing a great job with the digging for Britain series. Intellectually gorgeous blonde as well. 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿

[@markpreston4754]

God Bless US All

[@CaptchaNeon]

I really regret having kids so young and getting married when I could have lived my dream being an archaeologist. Kids are grown now and it's too late but I'd still love to be one or at least experience it for a day.

[@margaretjohnson4413]

Very Interesting video with a mixture of different things. It seemed obvious to me that the islands were man made and it also seems obvious why , for the same reason that Ducks build nests out on the water, predators were abundant water was a good barrier.

[@DianeBuchta]

I believe Time Team did a show about this island years ago. They were the first to tell us this little isle was man made.

[@antoniomoreira5921]

There are beautiful videos about Medieval welfare in Schwerpunkt's Christian and social history playlists that I strongly recommend

[@Chosies1]

🤓 Is it just me or are the pink dots purple? 🤔

[@ArtbyKatina]

Looks like you’ve got a slingshot ball hoard there. 8:20

[@lianefehrle9921]

31:38 those round objects to look like what they would put in a fire to heat up for boiling water or for heating up the inside of a bedding cover.

[@girlnorthof60]

😂 hence the ancient saying "move over, your laying on my hot balls"

[@si4632]

wow that brooch a huge hunk of metal

[@jerrylong381]

I wonder why the assemblage of whale, deer and human jaw bone are thought to be associated with the decommissioning of the blocks, instead of the commisioning of them. The thought occured that remains of the revered ancestor may be found at the other sites in the area. Maybe they were the one that built the original Block, so were revered as a sort of visionary or saviour of the tribe. So much so that their bones became relics that brought strength to the structure and the people associated with it. Just a thought.

[@johnkidd797]

Archeological studies have found that people in the past were skeletons that live underground.😊

[@gittarollke3102]

Why is there always a time limit for digging for artifacts in these videos, why can they not just take their time until all is revealed?

[@25172605]

Dose anyone know the name of the music that starts at 05:43

[@carolineleonard8214]

If I knew you, I would say celebrate the differences because they culturally enrich your life and those around you. It's fun, fun, fun. No harm done to anyone therefore enjoy it all. My American friend who's been in Wales over 35+ years, and has never had any desire to go back, has gradually and naturally lost all her Americanisms. She now says that she is Welsh but has a very slight American accent (Ohio). No gives it a second thought and just accepts her as she is, a wonderful lovingly friendly person. BTW, She shouts louder than I do and is more passionate in support of the Welsh Rugby team.

[@davidevans3227]

greetings from south wales 🙂

[@geodezix]

love to see burnswark, but there's no place to park

[@peterkruse788]

Parking is hard ! Walk it

[@geodezix]

@@peterkruse788 i live in the u.s.....that would be a long walk!

[@thedourkin]

Lincolnshire... the north of Britain? The BBC/Digging for Britain producers really need to (even now, in the 2020s) work on both geography and their own cultural bias.

[@si4632]

Definitely northern

[@wayneclayton5426]

Anything north of Peterborough is North to me. When leaving London Kings Cross.

[@si4632]

Peterborough is definitely east midlands and to be fair so are some parts of Lincolnshire but the part of Lincolnshire they were referring to here was some place in northern Lincolnshire which looked further north than Sheffield 🤣 and anywhere north of Nottingham is northern they sound northern 🤣

[@thedourkin]

Thanks to everyone for confirming the stereotype of Home Counties dwellers.

[@wayneclayton5426]

@@si4632 Fun fact Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire is on the same latitude as Moscow. And the Greenwich meridian runs through just south of Cleethorpes.

[@mauricejohnston8454]

I love this series BUT,,why have did the constantly talk about locks and not lochs. A lock is what you put a key in or a boat in a canal

[@pcka12]

We know that the monasteries provided care for the poor, so why does the narration say that it is changing our view of monasteries in which the inhabitants were sworn to a life of poverty & service?

[@michaelawinter4793]

What's the name of the man (Martin) from the Ken's Broch digging?

[@1101millie97]

What seasons does this cover?

[@carl5652]

I was just about to go to bed

[@WeldingQueen]

I'll put something like this on to go to bed to but I end up staying up watching it bc I get so interested in it 😅

[@peterkruse788]

It’s fun ! Don’t sleep yet

[@margomoore4527]

Interesting to see those gorgeous healthy teeth in an ordinary person. The one, at least, must have been well fed, apparently, and had access to few sweets, or have been a person denying themself earthly pleasures (the plague pit).

[@frankanddanasnyder3272]

The carved stone balls have groves..attachment points for ropes to be used as a swing weapon like a mace...ll

[@jerrylong381]

I thought this too, but someone else suggested weights for fishing nets, which is also plausible. The time spent carving them leads me to lean towards the weapon theory though.

[@NayFunPUMA]

Yes ok ya my master

[@fionabryant7923]

Water levels could easily have risen over time also..leaving more

[@peterwolf4157]

The only thing that I do not like about this is the HH add at twice the volume.

[@carolarmer1204]

Could the lake have been frozen over when the crannog was built ?

[@lorih2853]

This show needs to acknowledge those who went before. Time Team did an episode on cranogs (sp?) two decades ago.

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

I don’t think that the Roman equivalent of a Sergeant did a good job of making the slingers pack out the ammunition they packed in. That lead was valuable. The question is why was there were so many unused bullets in that one place. Did someone bring a bag of them that was left there?

[@Yourmomma92]

I’d assume caches or negligence. People forget shit all the time, even in recent history

[@andrewwing7806]

Only Roman seige? What about Maiden Castle

[@brucejr.5833]

💪⛏️🔥😳

[@dcollins4679]

Almost unwatchable with the number of adverts.

[@lemming9984]

When an ad appears, click the 'back' button on the browser, then 'forward'. This usually by-passes them. Make a note of the time, as occasionally it will start from the beginning!

[@jimclarke1108]

🥰

[@satsumaking4635]

I think jumping from finding cache of lead slingshot in forts to suggesting full scale siege warfare is quite a logical leap. Maybe it happened, and since shown more evidence has been found but what was shown in this was hardly proof of anything. The romans obviously had time to set up two camps to the south and north, how long did this fort hold out, years? Where are the bodies from fighting? They also wouldn't attack with just slingshot stones, where are all the other weapons. Did they only ever siege this one fort, why no other evidence of large sieges found? Any historical records ever referring to a siege occurring? Lead is really soft, if the shot had been used in actual siege their would be obvious ballistic affects. All the shots shown look in fresh pristine condition.

[@lenabreijer1311]

Did you miss the spread in side the hill Fort with a concentration at the exit?

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

There's Roman camps all over Scotland, the Romans talk of burning the winter grain stores to force them out of hiding.

[@terrysmiles8599]

I think them people didnt build them locks to live on maybe more like for hunting!!

[@Patriot1789]

Burial of a person thought of as a witch?

[@paralogregt]

Its' Loch not Lock.

[@senamy424]

How you can explain to dead person , resting for hundreds of years that you have to dig his/her grave up? Do archeologists ask dead people, for permission to disturb their dreams ?

[@Yourmomma92]

😂😂😂 consent doesn’t matter to remains like that. How dense are you

[@tnekkc]

Can you understand these accents?

[@fghjjjk]

Same ballistic power as a .44 magnum 😂😂😂... Rubbish!

[@si4632]

Yep utter twaddle

[@gregkrueger331]

Look, i like dramatics as much as the next guy but don’t try to bulls#it us. The ballistics of that sling and lead shot is nowhere NEAR the energy and speed of a .44mag. They’re orders in magnitude different and he knows that. Hearing a “science guy” float out silliness like this makes me question anything else that comes from his mouth.

[@karlkarlos3545]

maybe we should try this from different distances, starting from close. You care to volunteer as our dummy?

[@jimtitt3571]

​@@karlkarlos3545Archeology is supposed to be a science, at 100mph that lump of lead has to weigh between 1 and 1.7kg to achieve the ballistic force of a 44 Magnum. So yes, it's bull of an order of manitude.

[@gemellodipriapo]

British ancestors? Do you mean the Romans? or the Anglo Saxons and the Jutes? Perhaps the Vikings? or the Normans? Oh and btw if the Romans didn't conquer Caledonia ... it was because there was f all there and that meant there was no tax revenue.

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

At some point in the future there will not be an inch of land in England that has not been carefully investigated, excavated and catalogued. But the English will continue to be obsessed with the past, because it is easier to open and fill holes in the earth than to free the conscience of a people dominated by the habit of digging. Which leads me to ask what will happen in England when there is nothing ancient left to be discovered beneath the ground? I suppose the English will produce a new science: genetic archaeology. I explain, researchers started collecting DNA from living people to investigate whether they are really related to the people buried as their parents, and whether their buried ancestors gave rise to those parents, grandparents, etc... to draw a DNA line between every living person of present-day England and their more distant ancestors. Long-buried paternity secrets will begin to surface, creating funny situations and legal conflicts because of inheritances not attributed to the true genetic heirs. Before long, genetically pure tribes will be organized and ancient conflicts will be reborn . The tribal DNA wars in England will be terrible. Centuries later, new archaeologists will finally have new things to excavate. 😂😂😂