The Ancient Graves Found On A Welsh Cliff | Extreme Archaeology | Absolute History

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.
It's like Netflix for history... Sign up to History Hit, the world's best history documentary service and get 50% off using the code 'AbsoluteHistory' bit.ly/3vn5cSH
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. Any queries please contact: [e-mail]

[@Kunfucious577]

Im an american and ive been watching so much of these history shows from england, that the american accent sounds foreign to me.

[@milesberry8522]

holy crap, same

[@brushbros]

Me own wife be sufferin' from the self same effect!

[@joannaglasby2596]

I have a similar problem in that I’ve watched so much absolute history I sometimes pronounce things with a mild British accent

[@quackaddict2203]

Canadian here but same 😆

[@lindadobson9854]

You are funny......I’m a Brit living in California........the American accent IS foreign.😊

[@pigoff123]

I am an American raised on an off base in Germany. I love English history. I have been to England several times. I was surprised when I found my birth father he was an English history professor after he retired from the military. I could watch English history everyday.

[@DVD927]

Genetically curious. 😀

[@mattcook70]

This is Welsh history ;)

[@reginaromsey]

Love that dome. It is much better than one of the rectangular tent for shedding wind. I wonder what the coastline looked like when the graves were constructed. Were the people fishermen or farmers, or both?

[@naui_diver9290]

It was about 10 miles further into the ocean

[@oldmountainhermit3347]

Coastal soil is less fertile, so I'd say fishermen, unless the area was already extensively settled and this was all that was left for some farmers.

[@jeffreymcneal1507]

@@naui_diver9290 Well, that rather puts it in a different light! I was going to view this with regard to the question of who in the world would be burying their loved ones in a cliff face, but the real answer is a bit more banal!!

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

This program started in 2004, some of these are really old. I think this particular episode was from 2004 also. Alice is now Professor Alice Roberts. I love the programs Alice has done since. Britain’s most Historic Towns is a good example. It’s also here on KZbin if you’re interested in history programs etc. Thanks for the upload 🐿👍

[@maxdecphoenix]

they're all from 2004 because the show only had one season. 8 episode spin-off of Time Team. As these aired in mid 2004, this was likely filmed some time in 2003.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

@@maxdecphoenix - thanks for that extra info. I was commenting about the year it was made because of some of the other comments - it sounded like some people watching thought that this was a more recent (perhaps 2020) production. Thanks again and take care xöx 🐿

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

@@maxdecphoenix - actually, I’ve just gone back and had a look at the comments and it appears that the comment I was actually replying to has been removed.....very odd, very odd indeeeeeeeeed. 😜🐿 Now my remark seems a bit pedantic and out of context. Oh well, that’s life (and KZbin) I guess. Ps - I don’t know what ffxi is, but I’m sorry everyone left 😐. That’s a bit sad.

[@brightphoebus]

I recognized her. I've seen her in other programs yes.

[@Janettemay64]

@@SecretSquirrelFun I found your comment of considerable interest. I did think it more recent, thank you.

[@Watusifarm]

I’m an American and I watch so many of these shows now ! It’s cool to me because these are my ancestors too!

[@realrogue]

It's neat, the layered readout she uses to see the coffins underground looks a lot like the musculoskeletal ultrasound screens we look at to guide needles for procedures and things.

[@feefee6889]

“We don’t want to destabilize the cliff edge as much as possible”, they say as they remove all the brush holding the cliff edge together... 😂 umm sure

[@catzkeet4860]

Key words being “as possible” They’re digging for gods sake!! Ofc they’re going to have to destabilise the cliff to a greater or1 lesser degree.

[@Bigrignohio]

"Cleared the cliff face of vegetation"? The stuff actually keeping the cliff face from eroding even faster?

[@Oozes_Dark]

Ooh go off, sister

[@donnaspear8311]

You are correct. Mother nature always wins.

[@feefee6889]

My exact thought!! 🙃😑 like didn’t they just say they can’t damage the sssi site 😂😂

[@raminagrobis6112]

@@feefee6889 That would be a pretty dumb thing to do. I'm confident they did what's necessary to restore vegetation once the site was secured and studied.

[@feefee6889]

@@wildrose2748 wondering how they cleaned up and put the site back together isn’t being a “Karen” it’s being curious. Not like they explained that part in the video, but they talked so much about erosion it was on her/our minds. Why are you so grumpy?

[@moonoggin]

They all make a great team. I really enjoyed this video. All are so knowledgeable

[@giaatta9303]

Love these sessions!

[@celticphoenix2579]

Question: When excavated bones with no identifying information are reinterred, what is inscribed on the grave marker? Excavated burial from x location dated to y year containing z remains? Or something different?

[@ladyalaina42]

Good work!!

[@newwavepop]

i love this type of stuff thank you so much for putting it up. but Chrst what a lot of commercials seems like every two minutes.

[@tmoigor8798]

WOW I am glad I found this video, very informative and yet sad about the baby's grave. I think I like this more so than the normal time team fare.

[@Amanda3280h]

Agree!!

[@tgbluewolf]

As an American who's been binging on Time Team lately, hearing Meg's accent was a surprise 😅

[@cagrangersealninja3720]

Amazing

[@RebelCanners]

Are these bones being dna tested and the results shared with gedmatch for us genealogy dna researchers?

[@systlin2596]

As decomposed as they are, it might not be possible to get good DNA samples from them.

[@RebelCanners]

@@systlin2596 they have gotten dna from older samples. On gedmatch you can compare to some Really old famous finds. Of them I share some Dna with Kennewick man found in North America. It’s really fascinating

[@RebelCanners]

@james morgan actually you are wrong it’s all about the amounts of cms. You only share dna with 50% of your biological 4th cousins. So to have a significant cm match tells much.

[@systlin2596]

@@RebelCanners It's not a matter of how old they are, it's a matter of how well preserved they are. With such badly decomposed bone, it's unlikely they'd be able to recover DNA from them.

[@sarahelmore83]

@@RebelCanners Age is not the determining factor in whether viable dna can be extracted from ancient remains. DNA viability is affected by the condition of the bone, and examples like Kennewick Man were extracted from bone that was preserved in near perfect conditions which kept the bones from being broken down on a cellular level. As stated in the program, the acidity level of the soils in this case has resulted in 80% of these skeletons being disintegrated. One only needs google “effect of acidic soil on bone burials” to find numerous peer reviewed published studies about the destructive nature of acidic soil and how it breaks down every part of the bone, including DNA. Even in any bone that survives the total destruction by the soil, there is still serious damage to the cellular structure of the bones. Finding enough viable dna to sequence the genome is not nearly as simple/easy or common as popular media has made us believe regarding the process.

[@Metonymy1979]

The new Time Team. Without that amazing historical artist.

[@adkviking69shofner98]

No PHIL no team

[@tweezerjam]

@@adkviking69shofner98 agreed 😂

[@learningtobeme5195]

The music is less catchy...

[@darryljones5016]

Yes! I totally agree with you! And OMG! Dr. Alice Roberts! Man she still looks good! Love her hair!! She hasn't changed much from 1st time I saw her on Time Team from nearly 20yrs ago. And Katie Hurst! Another Time Team specialist!

[@giovannideventuri4506]

@Kitta Sir Tony is also a qualified diver

[@toyameni]

Do any of these ladies have their own KZbin channel as well?

[@modernmozart813]

Fantastic 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@elenabaker1914]

I recently had a similar experience. I would like to point out however that although Wales is part of Great Britain, they are most certainly not English.

[@nutsforbeauty]

Oh my goodness. Where in Pembrokeshire? My husband and I used to walk in the national parks of southwest Wales.

[@bonzey1171]

Judging by the shot of that town at night, somewhere very near Milford Haven no doubt

[@Seashed]

How about some goggles? Brilliant!

[@pshaw8406]

That one woman sounds like she's saying beans. "The beans in your foot," "the beans in your toes."

[@Blessings.429]

What I think of is......The relatives had to go and find pieces of stone to do the job of forming the graves. This Flores me, to go out with that on your mind. The heart wrenching emotion of the mother and the family, my goodness . Where they praying saying a rosary ? I always know it’s never finished as there are always more questions, there are always more questions.

[@celticgypsy6067]

Thank you for the reburial.

[@rockinbobokkin7831]

I think that they should be more honest about empty graves. Dead creatures in the dirt become fertilizer. Sometimes the bones get absorbed over time. I'm also confused about why this program always has these tiny dig windows. It seems sort of implausible. One would think they would just dig out until they are finished and then fill it back.

[@lillimango51]

A friend of mine who is an archeologist ones told me how they had 2 days to dig out a ancient roman traveling route in 2 days... dug the shit out of everything their arms could bare to see the construction and dimension, only to cartograph and document and dig everything back in, knowing, that from day one after the digging everything would be destroyed by heavy farming machines :( It seems to me, too tiny time windows are a common problem.

[@tgbluewolf]

I think that's what she meant when she was saying that the bones, especially of a baby, probably wouldn't have survived so long. Plus the change in the feel of the soil.

[@darrellepickering8433]

Why do a series on villages on the cliffs that have disappeared? Erosion is the reason & I'm guessing 100's are gone.

[@jonnywatts2970]

Looks like rocks and dirt but it's so much more.

[@michaelmccann3546]

I have often wondered after watching many, many videos of grave excavations, if any DNA has been extracted to see if there are any descendants still in the area or elsewhere.

[@mattcook70]

Google Cheddar Man, he was a dude from the Mesolithic who's body was recovered from a cave in Cheddar and after DNA testing they found a living relative of his still living in Cheddar. I think if memory serves he is a history teacher.

[@bryan5549]

"What we need to do, is have Meg hike another mile or two with the ground penetrating radar, while we stand in a circle and point at a piece of paper. Sound good, all?" 19:11

[@colinwade5640]

Would you like a documentary with your ads ,

[@lisaprice543]

Would be interested in dna of subjects.

[@stephanies7937]

Does anyone else find the background "music" to be extremely annoying & distracting? As an American, I have trouble understanding the heavily accented speech, which I must focus on to decipher their words, the music is an unwagnted distraction. Plus this is an educational video, the music is an annoyance.

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

I'm American,I have no problem with the accents or the music. I do however find fascinating the need to bitch about a free upload of a show from 16 years ago...

[@riverlady982]

My wisdom teeth were already in by 14. I was no more than Kindergarten age when I got my first adult tooth. No idea why or how common that could be but it hasn't happened with my daughter's. Nothing about me really follows medical norms though. No idea when my Thirteen year molars snuck in there because I just didn't notice. Where as all I'll say is getting the wisdom teeth through my gums were a painful process that resulted in a dentist trip due to a gum infection. Wow was that Dentist surprised.

[@pollyg562]

are we not using the word KISK anymore

[@elishevanesher8580]

@POlly g I was wondering the same thing myself. But isn't the name for those "kist'? A in box?

[@componenx]

I was also wondering about that. Someone thought this was the MTV version of TimeTeam, so that would make sense- they've dumbed it down for the masses.

[@KRASJEL]

what about at the bottem? Some graves are perhaps SO degrated and erosed that they fell. Look at the bottem of the cliff.

[@stringerchick3650]

The amount of commercials is ridiculous

[@karmicpopcorn6440]

Is this Katie and Alice from TimeTeam?

[@sarahelmore83]

Yep.

[@crunchies4me]

Maybe the sand blasting is telling them to leave the graces alone!!!

[@Chompchompyerded]

Ay! That's me mum your digging up!

[@momof2momof2]

As much as I am very interested in this kind of thing, digging up, removing and handling peoples burial sites, seems wrong and invasive all at the same time. It's a bitter sweet thing to me.

[@m.asquino7403]

I actually feel that if the departed actually knew that their remains were dug up they wouldn't mind if their story was told.

[@nunyabiz6925]

I think they don’t care they are dead

[@tgbluewolf]

If my options were being paved over or eroding into the sea (albeit still better than paving lol), I doubt I'd mind being preserved and studied.

[@SStevenson555]

This is the “MTV” version of TimeTeam. Which is a disservice to the skill level of the individuals.

[@KayteePhilly]

Lady: I've got a bit of bone here! Me: 💃

[@Phaerion]

I do like and watch this series.. but it's not as entertaining as Time Team. I probably should not compare the two, but with all these familiar faces Time Team keeps popping up in my mind.

[@whatever__dude]

the geophys lady looks like tina majorino

[@em-agan]

Alice is everything.

[@ladashiacleary-tucci2576]

WHERE ARE YOUR GLOVES? STOP TOUCHING THE BONES WITHOUT GLOVES

[@joshuatate6450]

Where is Mark Davies' accent from? He doesn't use contractions, ("We climbing" instead of "we're climbing" for example) and, of course, his pronunciation of words like "here" and "year" which strikes my ears as something like "hyuur." Is he a native English speaker?

[@bonzey1171]

Wales mun

[@philipg2948]

Full of adverts, increasingly interrupting as the show proceeded, which became unbearable given that the show itself is very very slow-paced. I lost interest and now have a negative perception of the advertisers!

[@Janettemay64]

Philip G.... When you first open the page grab the red dot and slide it right across then reset. All the adverts should be gone. Alternatively download AdblockPlus and no more adds ever.

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

Then why don't you know how to avoid ads? bitching isn't one of the methods.

[@catslove3884]

As soon as the first ad came on, I left.

[@crunchies4me]

That's the thing, babies and children died probably more so than, then now. It's just how it happened especially back in the earlier times. I doubt the babies who have died are not at peace.

[@maryfreebed9886]

The sight of that worn molar makes me cringe hard. OWWWWW...

[@louisprinsloo5709]

Rebuild the historical towns closest to the studies made, where possible. Instead of using it as tourist attractions, get the willing people of the nation in study to inhabit the rebuild historical towns/places with the agreement that they live a life identical to the peoples back then during the visiting hours, to attract and inspire visitors. All whilst keeping good faith and kindness, without trespassing modern or all time laws. After visiting hours, the people living there for the "show", could start up their solar powered equipment and also promoting green echo friendly living. Thus it will bring back life to the historical towns and lessen the poverty most people of all nations face.

[@tgbluewolf]

Is there any possibility of more than one person being buried together? Referring to the second set of bones, where the sex was indeterminate.

[@kevinbach]

This 'History Show' is from Wales not England ! Much like calling an American show Canadian !

[@fieroboom]

It's The Charlie's Angels of Archaeology... 🤔

[@barrydysert2974]

💜🙏💜

[@chucku.farley3927]

ad bombardment, that's what this is.

[@cruisepaige]

Too many ads, bubye

[@sallygunit]

This would be so much better to watch without the lame soundtrack they've chosen

[@mamabear090]

Trigger Warning - Infant Grave I appreciate this video, and the discussion. I just wasn’t prepared for the reminder of infants I’ve had to bury myself.

[@StacyL.]

I'm concerned about the "cross" inscription they found at 42:15. This could also be Runic. Instead of always assuming that when you find across that it's Christian, I would seriously consider looking at the Runic symbols such as Viking or Scottish. If this is Runic, this rune would make sense as to a grave marking, because the + symbol means "grief" or "hardship".

[@AVB512]

The orientation of the graves was also part of their evidence that it is Christian.

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

> “+ means suffering “ ... interesting ..

[@peterforden5917]

>Why would they be Runic? The Welsh Christian community could easily write in latin or welsh, why would christians chose a pagan method of script? its age (600) militates against runes as well.

[@peterforden5917]

a Further thought, her placing the cross marker at 5th century (400+ ad? makes it pre viking invasions by a good 300 years, so why would it be runic? a script which was completely unknown in Britain at the time, also as the scots were pagan (irish invaders) and again had'nt made disastrous contat with the scandinavians or spread their irish depredations further south, you seem to be writing the native Welsh out of their own history for some sort of new age reason. ( runes used for magic, a late scandinavian useage)

[@MatthewSlaymaker]

Smh

[@henrymarriott4733]

A lot of words, conjecture , very clean hands but no actual work. Disappointing.

[@CD-gh4oc]

This is friggin awesome! I'm 15 minutes in. Looks like a bitch of a job. But they're figuring it out.

[@potatopatooti]

Anyone else reach back and feel for their external occipital protuberance? 😂 I'm a short afab 30yr old and the more I watch shows like this the more convinced I am that I'm going to be labelled a male skeleton

[@sandramurdock6453]

I really don't like the host much, he's definitely not 'MicK". At least they have an original Time Team member.

[@RobKoelman]

Curious hybrid of Time Team and 'Charlie's Angels'. Both this new series and Charlie's Angels display one male boss/team leader and three attractive women doing the jobs...

[@Meine.Postma]

I guess the surfer boy narrator is Charlie as in Charlie's Angels. Irritating he can't pronounce the 'U'.

[@bonzey1171]

He's Welsh mun. That's what they sound like ffs

[@ash.ab.5575]

Alice Roberts is cute

[@suicideheadaches4460]

Why re bury the bones?? You already dug them up no need to be sentimental now lol

[@soxpeewee]

This group talks a lot and doesn't get enough acomplished.

[@bevanpope7924]

Way too many ads... and the presenter needs a few lessons in pronunciation, they will let anyone present these days. Binoclars I assume are meant to be binoc-U-lars... voo-ing = viewing? Noo, I assume is New? Otherwise great to see Katey and Alice again and Meg is a gorgeous addition to the “British” archeological scene.

[@bevanpope7924]

Too many Ads. I’m outa H-y-err...

[@robbleeker4777]

This program tastes to much like "Time Team".. It uses the exact same formula,

[@brianwillerton8659]

When the narrator cannot ENUNCIATE words in his sentences correctly, it makes it hard to enjoy the program.

[@stevensonDonnie]

A new born or small child has no bones as they have cartilage that has not ossified yet.

[@amazinggrace5692]

Newborns and children do have bones .. more than adults actually because some bones have not joined together yet.

[@lisapedersen8669]

Excellent point

[@roymariano7116]

they'd get more work done if they had a backhoe doing the digging.

[@soxpeewee]

Or not flapping their gums instead of digging

[@cs-mh2dh]

These were once humans who were ritually buried by their loved ones. Here we are disturbing ancient burials just out of curiosity. There is no reason other than curiosity to distrub the resting place of deceased humans. I can understand disturbing buildings and learning of the past, but none of this does any good to how we live today, (which needs much improvement). We hold too much curiosity that we neglect our present state of living.

[@ladashiacleary-tucci2576]

Just saying ancient burials deserve to be left alone, we don't bury our dead with the thought of people digging them up because the land is changing

[@mattskustomkreations]

Lucky guy working with those smart women!

[@echosierra5654]

CAN YOU STOP THAT COCAINE-MUSIC????

[@daniellehesselmans4392]

Good show but way too many ads. 2 every 5 minutes. Sorry but I’m unsubscribing.

[@Evan-st5df]

Get an Adblock. I see no ads. None.

[@daniellehesselmans4392]

@@Evan-st5df does that work on IPad?

[@Evan-st5df]

@@daniellehesselmans4392 I don't see why not. Mine is on PC. Check their web site. Can be free or small donation. Adblock.

[@d.rim.4275]

Just manually forward the video up to the end, then hit "replay". When the video starts again it's without ads. Not as effective as an adblock (you still have the ad at the beginning), but still neat when using the yt-app on a mobile/pad/tablet.

[@animerlon]

My first question is, did the team leader get to pick the team members? I in no way want to bring their expertise in question, but they are quite attractive. Just wondering if it made choosing easier. 😄 Not my question, but i wonder if it's one of the most dreaded when on a dig. "So, that means we have to shift the spoil heap doesn't it?" Having to spend the time as well as move a ton of earth a second time must be very vexing.

[@affintlewoodlewix]

Poor man's Time Team. Not worth the time. Nothing ever happens.

[@wonderwond]

such beautiful women doing that work, love it, id love to be there for physical and mental support :P hahaha

[@hashtag415]

GIRL POWER

[@peggyleadingham4528]

Why can't they just leave the dead alone? No matter how inaccessible a place is, they have to go dig up the dead and look at them. Leave them in peace as they wanted.

[@Lingchow1]

Have you found any transgender skeletons? Hahaha

[@kennethholland3425]

Leave the dead alone

[@bonzey1171]

I've got a bit of bone for you, Alice. Phwoar, innit 😂

[@artadams424]

‘Professional’ grave robbers…. So much for ‘rest in peace’…

[@OldDunollieman]

This gang need to watch the real Time Team, they are a pale imitation of the real thing.

[@imogenx5668]

I love Time Team and I also love this show. You don't need to bash it.

[@bonzey1171]

I want to be shipped back to Alice's bone lab, like

[@icarusairways6139]

Too many women in one place.

[@alyssamorgan9691]

I think you mean too many highly trained specialists in their field working on their profession?

[@icarusairways6139]

@@alyssamorgan9691 Nope.

[@bonzey1171]

No such thing mun

[@campbelldutch75]

I claim the red head she’s pretty

[@Calvinwiresner]

For those people wondering about the age of this video. I have to say that it is not from 2020 or previous year. In fact, you can tell it is quite old, one clue is that the chicks in the video are not yet obese and stupid. British chicks were still decent. We might need to use radiocarbon to ascertain the right date. I reckon 2004 or 5 but I am not sure though.

[@sciopadore]

A potential DNA swab could be sufficient for a sample..Might be contaminated tho..and radiocarbon dating anything born after 1945 isnt that accurate I heard... But it's supposed to taste like chicken,, if it smells like fish u better sample the other one !!

[@chucku.farley3927]

so I guess archaeology means grave robber?

[@MatthewSlaymaker]

Please, no.

[@Lingchow1]

I watched several episodes now. I think you should call it. Extreme whining and bitching archeology

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

How small is it?