Digging for Britain - Season 6 - Eps 4: The Horsemen of Hadrian's Wall
In this special, Professor Alice Roberts reveals the forgotten story of the Roman Army's secret weapon in Britain - their cavalry. These fearsome horsemen were the key to defending Britain's most famous Roman monument fortification, Hadrian's Wall. Alice sets off across Hadrian's Wall to investigate any evidence the Roman cavalry left behind, while a team of archaeologists and historical re-enactors attempt to re-stage a Roman cavalry tournament - a spectacle that no one has seen for over 1,600 years. We follow the team's training as they prepare for the performance, and Alice joins them at a public display in Carlisle where 30 riders perform in front of a crowd of spectators. To put the cavalry's story in context, the film also explores the latest archaeological digs happening across the UK, each of which is searching for new evidence of the Roman cavalry. On her journey across Hadrian's Wall, Alice visits some of the most iconic sites associated with the Roman cavalry, including Chester's Roman fort, Vindolanda fort and museum and Hexham Abbey. Along the way she builds a picture of the horsemen's lives here on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.
About Digging for Britain
Title: Digging for Britain
First Air Date: 2010-08-19
Last Air Date: 2025-01-16
Status: Returning Series
Rating: 5/10 (from 3 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 13
Total Episodes: 53
Network: BBC Two
Genres: Documentary
Production Companies: 360 Production, Rare TV
Synopsis
Dr Alice Roberts follows a year of British archaeology, joining up the results of digs and investigations the length of the country.
Cast
Alice Roberts
Self - Presenter
