11 February 2021
If you’ve been keeping up with the news as much as you’ve been devouring television shows or movies on streaming sites, you may have noticed a number of sites and destinations appearing that we visit with our expert-led tours!
It’s always a delight to see something familiar to us immortalised on film or making headlines as new artefacts are uncovered, so we’ve rounded up the most recent examples both if you had missed them and in case you’re looking for something new to read or watch.
A Netflix member? If so, you may already have seen a certain period drama entitled The Dig that everyone’s talking about. This film tells the story of the 1939 excavation of the archaeological site of Sutton Hoo. Starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes, and based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston, the film focuses on archaeologist Basil Brown and wealthy widow Edith Pretty, revealing how the historic mounds were dug up to reveal something truly incredible.
Our very own Oliver Gilkes will be leading a tour later this year, Archaeology & Ghosts in East Anglia, which visits Sutton Hoo and he recently wrote a piece for us about the site’s place in British history, which you can read by clicking here.
A site close to our hearts, what with being just minutes down the road from our office, Stonehenge will be the focus of a TV programme airing on Friday, 12th February at 9pm on BBC 2, presented by Professor Alice Roberts. Stonehenge: The Lost Circle Revealed follows a decade-long historical quest to reveal a hidden secret of the famous bluestones of Stonehenge, revealing along the way where the stones came from, how they were moved and more.
Hoping to visit Stonehenge this year? We can take you! Our Prehistoric Wessex and Christmas in Wessex tours both visit the site.
If you’re looking for a little ‘armchair escapism’, why not tune into Sandi Toksvig’s Extraordinary Escapes? Showcasing the best of the United Kingdom, she visits Kent, the Cotswolds, Suffolk, and a selection of charming Scottish locations.
While archaeology doesn’t really feature, it’s always a pleasure to be reminded of the history and beauty around us – especially as a holiday at home looks like it might be on the cards if we’re hoping for a getaway over the coming months.
In the Garden of England, we have our fascinating Behind the Scenes in Roman Kent tour, led by Dr Simon Elliott, and you can also visit Suffolk on our Archaeology & Ghosts in East Anglia tour.
This week, a news story emerged suggesting that archaeologists may have discovered another Skara Brae around half a mile from the world-famous Neolithic village. Coastal erosion has revealed a section of badly-damaged wall along with animal remains, and Sigurd Towrie, spokesman for the Archaeology Institute at University of Highlands and Islands, is reported as saying “there is another settlement at the Bay of Skaill – one that, from previous environmental sampling, is likely to be 4,000 to 5,000 years old.”
Both our Highlights of Orkney and Orkney & Shetland tours can take you to visit Skara Brae.
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