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A History of Ancient Britain

Orkney's Stone Age Temple

Duration: 59 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC HDLatest broadcast: on BBC History Channel

Available for years

Neil Oliver investigates the discovery of a 5,000-year-old temple in Orkney. Built 500 years before Stonehenge, the temple has triggered new thoughts about the beliefs of Neolithic people, turning the map of ancient Britain upside down.

The vast site lies undisturbed until now, set within one of the most important ancient landscapes in the world. There have been some incredible finds, including the first ever discovery of Neolithic painted wall decorations, and even the pigments and paint pots used by Stone Age artists.

Special effects have been used to bring this archaeological evidence to life, creating a 3D model of the entire temple, allowing Neil to walk inside in a bid to understand just how it might have been used. Show less

Contributors

Presenter:
Neil Oliver
Series Producer:
Eamon Hardy
Executive Producer:
Cameron Balbirnie

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