HS2 burial ground dig is focus of documentary
THE fascinating moment HS2 archaeologists uncovered more than 6,500 skeletons at an historic Birmingham burial ground has been documented as part of a new TV series.
BBC Two documentary The Biggest Dig was captured as thousands of human remains were excavated at an 18th century cemetery during the construction of the controversial high speed rail line.
Before construction work could begin on the project, more than 1,000 archaeologists, across more than 60 sites in between London and the West Midlands, carefully uncovered the secrets of Britain’s past. Filmed over three years, the documentary centres around two major cemetery excavations – one in Park Street, next to Birmingham Curzon Street station and one adjacent to London’s Euston station – the sites of two new HS2 terminals.
It shows the extensive work to examine the skeletons in more detail, alongside artefacts discovered within the burial ground, including figurines, coins, toys and necklaces. The documentary also hopes to provide ‘‘insights into the lives of people living and working in Birmingham during a period of great expansion and change’’. Archaeologists allowed TV documentary makers Lion TV exclusive access to the archaeological sites before any track could be laid for the rail project.
At St James’s Gardens in Euston, the disused Georgian burial ground was home to over 50,000 skeletons, which have been carefully exhumed during the work.
The BBC says: “The findings from the London cemetery can be compared with the work which has taken place in Birmingham, where over 6,500 skeletons were uncovered from the 18th century burial ground.”
Archaeologists were able to find out more about the lives and deaths of ordinary Londoners as well as uncover the remains of notable people including Captain Matthew Flinders, the explorer who first circumnavigated Australia and gave it its name.
The documentary will also explore the phenomenon of resurrectionists (body snatchers) in Georgian London.
Branded ‘Britain’s largest ever archaeological programme’, the three-part show is presented by anthropologist and anatomist Professor Alice Roberts and historian Dr Yasmin Khan.
Mike Court, HS2’s lead archaeologist, said: “Preparing to construct Britain’s new high speed railway has allowed us to explore and learn more about Britain, creating a legacy of knowledge that will enrich our understanding of the past.
“Between Birmingham and London our team of archaeologists have carefully excavated over 60 sites of archaeological significance and made fascinating discoveries which tell the stories of Britain through the ages.
“The documentary is one of the ways we are sharing our findings, including the story of two cities, Birmingham and London, where we excavated burial grounds, learning about the people who lived, worked and died there at a time of industrial growth and city expansion.”
BBC commissioning editor Simon Young added: “This partnership with HS2 has opened an extraordinary window into our recent past that is usually the realm of history books rather than archaeological excavations.
“The resulting series is a unique hybrid; marrying the physical evidence with written sources to create a vivid understanding of what life was really like in Georgian London and Industrial Revolution Birmingham.
“It’s fitting that such a hi-tech engineering project is also advancing our understanding of Britain’s history.”
The episode will air on Tuesday, September 29 at 8pm on BBC Two, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer shortly afterwards.