Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney

Original version

BBC Four

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

BBC 4

BBC Two

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Four HD

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland

BBC Scotland

BBC Scotland HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Secrets of Orkney: Britain's Ancient Capital

Jamie Simpson

Rachel Bell

Neil Oliver

Chris Packham

Shini Somara

Andy Torbet

Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney: Episode 3

Documentaries

britains-ancient-capital_160117_ep3_pp.jpg

Episode 3

BBC Scotland - Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney, Episode 3

Andy Torbet dives below the waves in search of the inspiration for the first stone circle.

Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Shini Somara uncover the secrets of Orkney. Andy dives below the waves in search of the inspiration for the first stone circle.

Seven miles off the coast of Scotland and cut off by the tumultuous Pentland Firth, the fastest-flowing tidal race in Europe, Orkney is often viewed as being remote. However it is one of the treasure troves of archaeology in Britain, and recent discoveries there are turning the Stone Age map of Britain upside down. Recent finds suggest an extraordinary theory - that rather than an outpost at the edge of the world, Orkney was the cultural capital of our ancient world and the origin of the stone circle cult which culminated in Stonehenge.

In the third of this three-part series, Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered there to investigate at one of Europe's biggest digs. Andy dives below the waves in search of the inspiration for the first stone circle, Chris and Neil spend the night on an abandoned island as they hunt for clues as to why cultures change, Shini tests the technology behind a Bronze-Age sauna, and the archaeologists uncover a remarkable find.

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland


Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara explore the secrets of Orkney.

Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered in Orkney at one of Europe's biggest digs.

Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered in Orkney to investigate at one of Europe's biggest digs.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney

Episode 3

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four

About BBC Four