Meet the Ancestors
Season 7
Meet the Ancestors aka Ancestors was a BBC Television documentary series that documented the archaeological excavation and scientific reconstruction of human remains. The series was introduced by archaeologist Julian Richards and often included facial reconstructions by Caroline Wilkinson.
Where to Watch Season 7
6 Episodes
- Nelson's Forgotten HeroesE1
Episode 1Nelson's Forgotten HeroesNick Slope's investigation into an archaeological dig on a tiny island which may have uncovered human remains connected to Horatio Nelson's 1798 victory against Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile. Forensic evidence is combined with information from ships' logs and personal memoirs from the time in a bid to identify bodies and paint a picture of life in Nelson's fleet. - Billy and the Fighter BoysE2
Episode 2Billy and the Fighter BoysRichards investigates the story of the fighter pilots of No 1 Squadron, who flew their Hurricanes against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of France during May 1940. Fighter ace Billy Drake was forced to bail out of his plane over eastern France, and, 63 years later, returns to the site where, with the help of a team of aviation archaeologists, he is reunited with its shattered remains. - The Hunt for Darwin's BeagleE3
Episode 3The Hunt for Darwin's BeagleRichards follows marine archaeologist Robert Prescott and scientist Colin Pillinger in their bid to find the final resting place of HMS Beagle, the ship made famous by naturalist Charles Darwin's voyages of discovery. Old maps and previous digs provide clues to the vessel's final resting place, and a remote-sensing survey at a secret location in the Essex marshes reveals the remains of a 90ft hull. - The Curse of Oxford GaolE4
Episode 4The Curse of Oxford GaolRichards reports from a dig where human skeletons hundreds of years old were discovered by builders excavating the ground outside the prison. The remains of more than 30 people, including a hanged teenager, a child whose legs were bent double and a severed head, were found at the site, and some believe that these skeletons prove the existence of a legendary curse dating back to 1577. - The Stonehenge EnigmaE5
Episode 5The Stonehenge EnigmaRichards examines the detective work which has taken place over the past 300 years and gives enthusiasts a clearer understanding of Stonehenge. An expert on the enigmatic standing stones himself, Richards shares the latest evidence, including forensic tests on a skeleton found at the site. He then reveals how they were erected as revolutionary cultural changes were sweeping Europe, leaving behind a timeless monument to one of the major turning points in human history. - Journey to HellE6
Episode 6Journey to HellWilfred Owen's nephew travels to the site of the Heidenkopf in northern France, an abandoned German front-line trench which was relentlessly bombed during the war poet's two-day ordeal in January 1917. With the help of trench map expert Peter Chasseaud, historians Paul Reed, Andy Robertshaw and Nigel Jones, plus a team of archaeologists, the dig unearths the remains of three soldiers and the entrance to a dug-out.
