Step back in time as we uncover the lost medieval city of Roxburgh - once a wealthy Scottish metropolis, now vanished beneath a quiet pasture. Why did Roxburgh disappear?
Join the Time Team as they embark on their most ambitious dig yet, searching for the forgotten city of Roxburgh near Kelso on the Scottish Borders. Once one of the four great urban centers of medieval Scotland alongside Edinburgh, Stirling, and Berwick, Roxburgh was a royal borough, a hub for international trade, and a center of political power under King David I. But unlike its counterparts, Roxburgh vanished from the map, leaving behind only faint earthworks and the decaying remains of its castle. With limited access and no prior archaeological excavations, the team has just three days and a tiny dig allowance to reveal the secrets hidden beneath centuries of untouched pasture.
Using cutting-edge geophysics, aerial photography, and traditional digging, the team uncovers city defenses, stone-built houses, bustling market streets, and the elusive St James’s Church. Discover how Roxburgh’s strategic location and booming wool trade once made it one of the richest cities in Scotland, and learn how political strife and shifting borders sealed its fate. Watch as medieval pottery, monumental tombs, and ancient street plans emerge, painting a vivid picture of a city that might have rivaled Edinburgh—if only history had taken a different turn.
#Archaeology #TimeTeam #MedievalScotland #LostCities #Roxburgh #ScottishHistory #UrbanArchaeology #HistoryDocumentary