Unveiling the Prehistoric Secrets on the Isle of Barra

🏰The Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides holds rich and well-preserved prehistoric archeology.

🔎The storm has exposed burial sites and a roundhouse that provide valuable insights into life on the island thousands of years ago.

🌬️Extreme weather poses a constant threat to the preservation of the archeological sites on the island.

🔥Building a kiln using peat as fuel is an experiment to understand ancient pottery-making techniques.

🌿The scarcity of trees on the island meant that peat was likely used for various purposes, including firing pottery.

What is the significance of the discoveries on the Isle of Barra?

—The discoveries on the Isle of Barra provide valuable insights into prehistoric life and burial practices on the island.

Why is extreme weather a threat to the preservation of the archeological sites?

—Extreme weather can cause erosion and lead to the destruction of valuable historical artifacts.

Why is peat used as fuel for the pottery experiment?

—Peat was likely used as fuel in the past due to the scarcity of trees on the island, and the experiment aims to understand ancient pottery-making techniques.

What is a cist burial?

—A cist burial is a type of burial where the deceased is placed in a stone-built tomb with an array of surrounding stones.

How old is the roundhouse discovered on the Isle of Barra?

—The roundhouse is estimated to be from the Iron Age, around 500 B.C., making it approximately 2,500 years old.

00:00(dramatic music) The Time Team embarks on a three-day rescue mission to investigate prehistoric archeology exposed by a storm on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. The team explores burial sites, uncovers a roundhouse, and experiments with ancient pottery techniques using peat as fuel.

04:17The Isle of Barra holds rich and well-preserved prehistoric archeology, but extreme weather poses a constant threat to its preservation.

08:40The team excavates burial sites and discovers a cist burial, where the deceased is placed in a stone-built tomb with surrounding stones.

12:12The team investigates a roundhouse, estimated to be from the Iron Age, and experiments with pottery-making using peat as fuel.

12:45The scarcity of trees on the island indicates the use of peat for various purposes, including firing pottery.