Archaeologists Find 97 Ancient Remains Buried Beneath A Roman Villa | Digging For Britain

When a high-status Roman villa called Yewden was discovered in southern England, it came with a sinister discovery. 97 infant skeletons were uncovered, all mysteriously around 40 weeks old, and likely buried all at once in a hurry. It raises many questions about systematic infanticide during the Roman period. The show also uncovers evidence of Roman expansion in Kent and trade with the Romans in Dorset, along with a significant coin hoard found in Somerset.

00:00 Intro
01:15 Vindolanda
07:30 Yewden Roman Villa
12:00 97 Ancient Remains
18:00 Roman Invasion
25:40 Iron Age Farm
31:40 Roman Treasure
40:20 Roman Shipwreck
44:15 Roman Temple

Welcome to Unearthed History -- the home for all things archaeological! From ancient Roman ruins to buried medieval mysteries, we'll be bringing you award-winning documentaries that explore the remnants of long lost civilizations.

Subscribe so you don't miss out.

#UnearthedHistory #Archaeology #Documentary

[HooptieWagon]

As an American, this show is new to me. Fascinating. And Dr Alice Roberts is just wonderful, and a great communicator.

[judyklein]

Fascinating documentary even if it is years old! I lived in England years ago for four years and was amazed by all of the archaeology wherever you went. Loved my time there and now am a dedicated Anglophile.

[BluebirdFrank]

Buried roman treasure and Alice Roberts is a winning combination! 😍

[serendipity]

Fascinating stuff, but the programme is from the summer of 2010. Would love an update on what has been discovered about these sites/finds since the programme was made.

[kevinlawler]

Alice Robert’s and Neil Oliver are apart some of the best documentaries … they actually cared about facts, truth and objectivity.. I recommend everyone to watch both of their documentaries they have been apart of..

[ReginaldJKornblow]

My face hurts from smiling. So interesting and beautiful and is a story that will never end so long as there's such things as shovels. And brushes and sifters and all of those hands, young and old committed to the work. Every once in a while this internet thing is actually worth the trouble.

[nancytestani]

So pretty much, England has archeology EVERYWHERE. Pretty cool.

[Sailoralso]

97 infant burials. Brothel. Also, , never to be discounted, infants have an unusually high mortality to common ailments. A woman, being fetile frequently, has the capacity for 15 to 30 births during her productive years, , but, , equally, , only two or three reach adulthood. In many cultures, , children were not even gven a name until they were one or two years old. Biologically, , an infant is an extra-uterine fetus until the age of about 10 months. Human children are borne early of need because of skull size vs pelvis width. The 97 infant skeletons thus have many possible explanations, hospital to brothel.

[theastronomer]

Outstanding show and presenter. As someone who loves ancient coins it's always nice to see some featured in an archaeology show.

[MrHowardking]

An EXCELLENT presentation by one of the best-ever old Time Team members Dr Alice Roberts

[RobertaFierro-mcub]

When I was 10 or 11 years old I dreamed of becoming an Archaeologist. I can even spell the word! I was always digging holes in the ground at the playground by myself. I constantly gazed at the wonderful discoveries in the Public Library while my mother shopped next door. I was captivated by the accounts in an old tattered book by Henry Carter. The black and white photo plates of King Tut's treasure are forever emblazened in my mind. It was a wonderful story and it was all true! The very fact that on the last day of the search, just as all the money ran out andthe very second they were leaving the site, a camel stepped into a deep hole. The rest is History. Some people search for treasure their entire lives and never find it...treasure hunters are one thing, but Archaeologists put the pieces together to tell the real story. What a calling!

[thehairyhominid]

Time team dug an almost an identical coin hoard, burried in a large pot just like that. It was also believed to have been pot buried first, then coins added.

[westcountrymudlarks]

how fascinating really enjoyed it thank you

[sassyjintheuk]

How absolutely fascinating thank you for putting this on youtube. To have stumbled across that coin haul, well I can't imagine it's so amazing. I realised that this programme was made some years ago. However, it is still very interesting and gives me the shivers just to think of all the marvelous things that lie just beneath our feet and beneath the sea. And, I do hope that the ship made its way back to Guernsey in the end. Thank you again for sharing this.❤😊

[awalk]

Such a gripping presentation and explanations of things, some of which I was aware of back in the 1970's in Northumberland, but did not understand the significance. Our lives are consumed by employment and only now, in retirement, is there time for me to learn all this new information. You can work for too long in intense work and miss out.

[ruthblack]

Brilliant! Such a treat to see Michael's devilish carefree smile that we so rarely get to glimpse. Dear Michael, you shouldn't start taking requests unless you can find some way to monetize it! ❤ to see you smiling! Warms me.

[GGsInterests]

The presentation of this, your other sites is so well organized. I enjoy them so much. Thank you!

[noonehere]

Every time you dig a hole in Great Britain you have at least a 50% chance of finding some history. 🙂👍👍

[FreeSpeech]

I want to visit Vindolanda at some point. One of the best preserved Ancient Roman forts in the world, if not the best, for the preservation of ancient artefacts, I believe.

[SnoMor]

Ms. Robert’s is such a delightful host & expert. Makes it easier to believe her!😎