BBC Alba series explores Scotland’s archaeology

BBC ALBA is into the transmission of a compelling six-part archaeology series exploring the substance of what lies under the surface of Scotland’s landscape.

The series covers the most advanced and dynamic excavation projects taking place in Scotland including the more conventional processes of buried landscape, accidental discovery, coastal archaeology. It also explores the less conventional categories of the ritual and the extreme.

Each programme will be dedicated to exploring one theme of archaeology:

Transmitted on Tuesday evenings at 8.30pm and already begun on 6th April, next Tuesday, 2oth April, centres on Community archaeology.

• Programme three: ‘Community Archaeology‘ centres on local communities in Pitlochry and the Isle of Harris who help archaeologists understand Scotland’s past.
• Programme four: ‘Extreme Archaeology’ follows Kirsty MacDonald as she explores some of the unusual methods used by archaeologists to reveal Scotland’s past including reconstructing an Iron Age crannog based on underwater research and using the methods people would have employed 2000 years ago.  The programme also features abseiling and aerial archaeologists.
• Programme five: Eroding Archaeology’ features some of the valuable sites and artefacts around Scotland’s coasts that are in danger of being lost forever such as a 3000 year old site opposite Lerwick on the Shetland Isle of Bressay.
• Programme six: ‘Ritual Archaeology’ will provide an insight into the current thinking on some of the unusual ancient burial practices and a recently discovered cemetery in Skye dating back to a Scotland of 4000 years ago.

We apologise for being unable to bring you this informatin in time for you to see the first two programmes. As regular site visitors know only too well, our site was recently virtually disabled for a number of days because of a catastrophic error made by server maintenance staff at our new host.

So we’re playing catch-up here – and with Programme Two at least recoverable via BBC iPlayer, here is the summary of the programmes you may not have seen.

• Programme one – ‘Finding Archaeology’ features one of the most important sites in the country.  At Forteviot beside the A9 and just south of Perth, archaeologists are trying to find the palace of Scotland’s first king.
• Programme two – ‘Submerged Archaeology’ features the search for a hidden legendary village off the coast of North Uist between Baleshare (Bailesear) and the Monach Islands (Heisgeir).  According to local oral tradition, submerged buildings exist there and stories relate to a time when the landscape around the North Uist coast was linked to the Monach Islands, which are four miles away off the north west coast of Uist.

Presented by keen amateur archaeologist Kirsty MacDonald from North Uist, ‘Talamh Tròcair’, ‘Revealing Scotland’s Past’ has been produced by mactv for BBC ALBA.

The photographs above show, form the top, archaeological site at Eilean Donan Castle; and Forteviot Pictish Burial

BBC ALBA is currently available on Digital Satellite, on Sky 168, Freesat 110 and live on BBC iPlayer. Ten hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Cable.