BBC - History - Excavations and Techniques

Insights and introductions to the work of history's forensic experts - the archaeologists.

Inside Excavations and Techniques

Types of Archaeology
Techniques
Recording Finds
Artefacts
Reconstructions
Excavations
Test Your Knowledge

Types of Archaeology

Battlefield Archaeology The detritus of war can survive for hundreds of years underground, and its discovery can bring about important revisions of history. By Tony Pollard and Neil Oliver.

Aerial Archaeology Top-down perspectives of archaeological sites offer unique insights into lost communities and past events. By Dave MacLeod

An Introduction to Marine Archaeology by Colin Martin
An Introduction to Wreck Diving by Kendall McDonald

Techniques

Excavating Human Remains It is one of the most controversial archaeological skills, but what can these remains tell us? By James Richards.

The Story of Carbon Dating How does this technique help archaeologists determine when artefacts were made?

Archaeology and Metal Detecting - What can they learn from each other? By Alex Hunt
Wreck Detectives - Solving mysteries beneath the waves
Archaeology Begins Yesterday: Three Centuries of Industry and War by Mark Horton

Recording Finds

Advice for Finders of Archaeological Objects If you are lucky enough to find an artefact, what exactly should you do with it? Your frequently asked questions are answered.

A Day in the Life of a Finds Liaison Officer An insight into the varied and unpredictable life of the people whose job it is to record finds by the general public. By Sally Worrell.

The Receiver of Wreck - Guardian of Britain's sunken vessels

Artefacts

Ages of Treasure Timeline Explore some of Britain's finest archaeological artefacts from the Palaeolithic to the Norman Conquest.

Treasure Gallery Nine of the most incredible artefacts turned up by metal detectors in recent years.

Hidden Treasure Fact Files - A fascinating glimpse of lost cultures, by Dr Neil Faulkner

Reconstructions

Wetwang Chariot Animation Follow the reconstruction of an Iron Age chariot, then have a go at building one yourself.

Reconstructing an Iron Age Roundhouse A step-by-step guide to Iron Age roundhouse construction, based on fresh insights gained from experimental archaeology.

Viking Age Farm at Ribblehead Virtual Tour - Take a 3D virtual tour of this fascinating site
'Endeavour' Virtual Tour - A 3D virtual tour of Captain Cook's ship 'Endeavour'
A Soldier's View of Battle through the Ages by Tony Pollard and Neil Oliver

Excavations

Britain's Oldest House?The recent excavation of a dwelling in Northumbria reveals ingenious and elaborate house building from the Mesolithic era. By Julian Richards.

City of the Dead: Calleva Atrebatum What led to the abandonment of this once-thriving Roman town in Hampshire? Why was there no medieval successor? By Professor Michael Fulford.

D-Day - The Untold Story - Underwater archaeology off Omaha Beach, by Brett Phaneuf
Mummification in Bronze Age Britain - A surprising phenomenon, by David Keys
Naachtun: A Lost City of the Maya by Kathryn Reese-Taylor
Napoleon's Lost Army: The Soldiers Who Fell by Paul Britten-Austin
Piltdown Man: Britain's Greatest Hoax by Kate Bartlett
The Amesbury Archer: The King of Stonehenge? by Andrew Fitzpatrick
Desert Rescue: An Expedition to the Sahara by John Hayes Fisher

Test Your Knowledge

Dig Deeper Quiz Test your knowledge of ancient history and archaeology. Answer all the questions correctly to complete the game.

Hunt the Ancestor Experience some of the realities of an archaeologist's work. Time and money are running out and the developer's diggers are moving in.

Iron Age Life - Acquire the skills to keep warm, fed and clothed
Diver's Quest - Explore the perils of the deep and discover the treasure

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