Eachtra Journal

ISSN 2009-2237

BBC Radio 4 -The Voices Who Dug Up The Past

February, 2010 · Written by: John Tierney Print This Page This entry is part 6 of 21 in the Issue 05

Two episodes of a radio programme examining the primary archives from two key English excavations and pondering how archaeologists interpret the remains they excavate. Information via the BBC programme website.

Episode 1

Broadcaster and archaeologist Mike Pitts delves into the question of why different archaeologists can dig the same sites yet reach completely different conclusions.

Mike visits Britain’s biggest Iron Age hill fort, Maiden Castle, and, through archive, diary excerpts and interviews, relives two seminal digs that took place there in the 1930s and 1980s. Is it a monument tied up in Roman warfare and invasion, or a structure symbolising power and exclusion from the outside world? Featuring interviews with Niall Sharples, Beatrice de Cardi, Ian Armit and Chris Sparey-Green.

Episode 2

Broadcaster and archaeologist Mike Pitts delves into the question of why different archaeologists can dig the same sites yet reach completely different conclusions.

Mike visits the Anglo-Saxon burial ground of Sutton Hoo. Through archive, diary excerpts and interviews, he delves into two huge digs that took place there in the 1930s and 2000s. What is the site actually about? More importantly, who is buried there? He meets an archaeologist who disputes the claim that it is the final resting place of Raedweld, an idea that’s thrown the cat among the archaeological pigeons. Mike also hears from a range of archaeologists who ponder the bigger questions of how much of archaeology is imagination, how much is agreed on, and is a failure to agree a failing in archaeology?

Featuring interviews with Martin Carver, Mike Parker Pearson and Lady Clarke.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qp0qx)

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