BBC Documentaries
King Arthur's Britain - The Truth Unearthed
TV-PG
2018 • E224 Sep 15, 2018 60mWith exclusive access to a major new excavation, Alice Roberts pulls together all the
latest evidence to reveal what Dark Age Britain was really like. In the fifth century, the
future of Britain hung in the balance; after four centuries of straight roads and hot and
cold running water the Romans upped and left, called back to support their own ailing
Empire. The country quickly descended into chaos, plunging the native population into
poverty and instability as their livelihoods - many dependent on the Romans - disappeared
almost overnight. The nation was vulnerable and it didn't take long for Anglo-Saxon
invaders to take advantage; a vast bloodthirsty army quickly overran the country, killing
the locals and settling down to change the history of the British Isles forever.
At least, that is what the fragmentary historical texts record, but the truth is we don't
actually know what happened. There is no reliable written account of events and for two
whole centuries sources provide the names of less than ten individuals. This pivotal moment
in our national history has been shrouded in mystery until now.
In this landmark history film, Professor Alice Roberts uses exciting new archaeological
discoveries to decode the myths and medieval fake news, piecing together a very different
story of this turning point in Britain's history. The story begins with exclusive access to
the excavations of an unprecedented stone palace complex on the Tintagel peninsula in
Cornwall. Long known to have been a Dark Age settlement the new evidence reveals that
Tintagel was also a seat of power, but who ruled there? The rocky outcrop has mythical
connections with the legendary King Arthur, but there has never been any evidence found
that he actually lived there or even existed.
Alice explores the link between the Arthur legend and the location, tracking down the early
sources for the period and the first written reference to King Arthur. She discove
latest evidence to reveal what Dark Age Britain was really like. In the fifth century, the
future of Britain hung in the balance; after four centuries of straight roads and hot and
cold running water the Romans upped and left, called back to support their own ailing
Empire. The country quickly descended into chaos, plunging the native population into
poverty and instability as their livelihoods - many dependent on the Romans - disappeared
almost overnight. The nation was vulnerable and it didn't take long for Anglo-Saxon
invaders to take advantage; a vast bloodthirsty army quickly overran the country, killing
the locals and settling down to change the history of the British Isles forever.
At least, that is what the fragmentary historical texts record, but the truth is we don't
actually know what happened. There is no reliable written account of events and for two
whole centuries sources provide the names of less than ten individuals. This pivotal moment
in our national history has been shrouded in mystery until now.
In this landmark history film, Professor Alice Roberts uses exciting new archaeological
discoveries to decode the myths and medieval fake news, piecing together a very different
story of this turning point in Britain's history. The story begins with exclusive access to
the excavations of an unprecedented stone palace complex on the Tintagel peninsula in
Cornwall. Long known to have been a Dark Age settlement the new evidence reveals that
Tintagel was also a seat of power, but who ruled there? The rocky outcrop has mythical
connections with the legendary King Arthur, but there has never been any evidence found
that he actually lived there or even existed.
Alice explores the link between the Arthur legend and the location, tracking down the early
sources for the period and the first written reference to King Arthur. She discove