BBC two series to showcase Orkney as “archaeological treasure trove”

A new BBC mini-series, which explores Orkney as one of Britain’s archaeological treasure troves, is to begin shortly after new year.

Britain’s Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney will follow presenters Andy Torbet, Chris Packham, Neil Oliver and Dr Shini Somara as they investigate different aspects of Orkney, in a quest to unlock the county’s historical secrets.

The programme comes about as a result of recent discoveries made in Orkney which the producers have said is “turning the stone age map of Britain upside down.”

In this new three-part series will see the four presenters join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered in the county to investigate at one of Europe’s biggest digs.

Over the run of programmes, which begin on Monday, January 2, Chris Packham will uncover the secrets revealed by the DNA of Orkney’s unique vole, Neil Oliver explores Orkney’s tombs and monuments, Dr Shini Somara experiments to discover how the Orcadians could have moved giant blocks of stone over rough ground, and archaeological adventurer Andy Torbet climbs Orkney’s most challenging sea-stack to unlock the story of Orkney’s unusual geology.