BBC Four - Nelson's Caribbean Hellhole: An 18th-Century Navy Graveyard Uncovered (original) (raw)

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As archaeologists excavate a mass grave of British sailors, Sam Willis explores Antigua's ruins and sees how the Caribbean's sugar islands were a kind of hell in Nelson's time.

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Human bones found on an idyllic beach in Antigua trigger an investigation by naval historian Sam Willis into one of the darkest chapters of Britain's imperial past. As archaeologists excavate a mass grave of British sailors, Willis explores Antigua's ruins and discovers how the sugar islands of the Caribbean were a kind of hell in the age of Nelson.

Sun, sea, war, tropical diseases and poisoned rum.

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BBC Four Archaeology Season

BBC Four Archaeology Season

Nelson's Caribbean Hell-Hole is part of BBC Four’s season of programmes exploring our fascination with uncovering the past. Find out more about the other programmes in the season below…

Archaeology: A Secret History - Dr Richard Miles seeks out ancient treasures and explores our relationship with the past.

The Flying Archaeologist - Ben Robinson conducts aerial surveys of ancient sites to reveal new evidence of lost civilisations.

Stories from the Dark Earth: Meet the Ancestors Revisited - Julian Richards discovers how science, conservation and new finds have changed our understanding of history.

The Archaeology at the BBC Collection - Robin Lane Fox explores the BBC's first ventures into archaeology programming.

The Somme: Secret Tunnel Wars - Peter Barton investigates the military mining that played a big part in the tactics of both sides during WWI.

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sam Willis
Producer Rupert Edwards
Director Rupert Edwards
Executive Producer Tim Green

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