Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes

Episode 1: Turkey: Delights of the East
Bettany encounters ancient mosaics that could change the course of human history.

Historian Bettany Hughes explores the delights and ancient wonders of central and eastern Turkey. She visits the magical, underground cave-like homes of Cappadocia, which contain an astonishing secret. She then heads to a giant mausoleum on top of the world and visits recently discovered mosaics, forgotten for over 1700 years, that could change what we know about the story of human life on Earth.

Episode 2: Oman
Bettany delves into the mystery surrounding Oman’s 5000-year-old beehive shaped tombs.

Professor Bettany Hughes visits Oman and uncovers an ancient society which grew rich by selling copper. She visits the crowning glory of Bronze Age Oman, a collection of mysterious 5000-year-old beehive-shaped tombs. She also discovers an ancient irrigation system and finds out how frankincense, once one of the most sought-after products on the planet, is still harvested by tribal families today.

Episode 3: Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, Bettany discovers the source material behind Eric Clapton’s song Layla.

In Europe’s highest settlement, the Azerbaijani mountain village of Khinalig, Bettany Hughes witnesses a language unlike any other. This region also provided the source material for Eric Clapton’s Layla and the 12th-century writer Nizami Ganjavi, dubbed the Shakespeare of the East. Bettany also visits the landlocked area of Nakhchivan, so remote and inhospitable it’s only accessible by air.

Episode 4: Albania
Bettany Hughes follows in Julius Caesar’s footsteps along Albania’s Adriatic coast.

Following in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, historian Bettany Hughes discovers the hidden treasures of Albania’s Adriatic coast. She visits the ancient Roman ports of Oricum and Apollonia, the magnificent Ottoman town of Berat and discovers Albania’s own Braveheart. She joins an underwater archaeology team beneath the freezing waters of Lake Ohrid and witnesses a millennia-old musical tradition.

Episode 5: Estonia
Bettany reveals evidence of sacrifice, shipwrecks and Europe’s last matriarchy in Estonia.

Using state of the art technology, historian Bettany Hughes lifts the lid on Estonia’s hidden treasures, which mix modern and ancient traditions. Exploring a sacred burial site, she unearths evidence of human sacrifice and a massive medieval shipwreck. Heading west, Bettany visits the island of Kihnu, where she’s guided through the unique folklore and customs of the last European matriarchy.

Episode 6: Bulgaria
From the Greek border to the Black Sea, Bettany explores Bulgaria’s mosaic of cultures.

Historian Bettany Hughes travels to Bulgaria, where a mosaic of cultures has generated an incredible history. Visiting the Black Sea, she explores Varna’s 6,000-year-old gold treasure hoard and uncovers the lives of the people who forged one of Europe’s earliest cultures. In the valley of the Thracian kings, she enters a 2,300-year-old tomb with extraordinary vibrant frescos still intact.