Digging for Britain

Alice Roberts travels to archaeological digs across the country, documenting each site’s discoveries. The series opens with a Roman‑themed edition that concentrates on the 97 infant skeletons uncovered beside the Thames, offering a close look at this significant remarkable find.

Britannia’s latest episode is a documentary‑style programme presented by Professor Alice Roberts. In this instalment she travels to a series of archaeological sites around the United Kingdom, offering viewers a glimpse of fieldwork that would otherwise be hidden from public view. The focus is squarely on the material unearthed, with Roberts guiding the audience through each dig’s particular context. The episode opens with a Roman‑themed investigation centred on a remarkable discovery alongside the River Thames. Here, archaeologists uncovered the remains of ninety‑seven infants, their tiny skeletons lying together in a burial that hints at a tragic episode from the city’s ancient past. Roberts examines the bones, discusses what the evidence can tell us about Roman‑era life and death, and highlights the methods used to identify and date such a large collection of infant remains. Beyond the Thames find, the programme continues to follow Roberts as she moves from site to site, illustrating how each excavation contributes to a broader picture of Britain’s past. By staying on the ground with the teams, the episode shows the careful recording, conservation and interpretation that turn buried fragments into a story we can understand. It’s a concise look at the work of archaeology, anchored by the striking case of the 97 babies and the insights they provide into a bygone world.