On the 3 May 2002, Wessex Archaeology excavated the Amesbury Archer - the remains of a burial from 2,300 BC and one of the most important Early Bronze Age graves in Europe.
Discovered three miles from Stonehenge his grave contained the richest array of items ever found from this period. Around 100 objects were found, including the complete skeleton of a man, three copper knives, two small gold hair tresses, two wrist guards to protect his wrists from the bow string, 16 flint arrowheads and five pots.
Now, 20 years on, we join those who excavated the grave into the early hours of the night as they recall the events. Subsequent years of research and development mean we continue to learn and discover more about the life of a man at the centre of Early Bronze Age society.
‘The Amesbury Archer: 20 Years On’ will uncover fascinating new evidence with interviews from the original excavators and important discussion of what new DNA technologies have been able to tell us in the intervening years.
Anatomist and archaeology specialist, Prof. Alice Roberts, joins us with voiceover exploring how our interpretations of the Amesbury Archer have changed over the last 20 years. Her recent book, ‘Ancestors’, featured discussion on how analysis of ancient DNA is changing our understanding of what this important burial indicates about the Archer and his society. Alice will also be giving a talk on Saturday 23 July followed by signings of her book 'Buried', the sequel to 'Ancestors'.
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