Strata: Portraits of Humanity is a monthly half-hour newsmagazine-style show. Each episode of the human story is a portrait building on the many layers of the human experience. This is a record we are just beginning to uncover. From that perspective, Strata delivers in-depth coverage of a wide variety of archaeological and cultural heritage topics all around the world.
Betty's Hope
The Caribbean island of Antigua sat at the crossroads of the first transatlantic economy. This documentary is about how a sugar plantation, called Betty’s Hope, was started in 1650 during colonial rule and gave many Antiguans economic support. This plantation was owned by Sir Christopher Codrington, the governor of the Leeward Islands, and lasted from 1674 to 1944...
Historical archaeology in downtown Boise; South Carolina pottery kiln excavation
The unexpected discovery of a well associated with one of the earliest homes in Boise, Idaho, led to an archaeological excavation. The home was built by a leading citizen, Cyrus Jacobs, and later became a Basque boarding house. The University of Illinois excavates an industrial pottery kiln that began operation in the early 1800s producing the “tupperware” of the time, a commodity...
Historic wetland in England; Nevada Basque celebration
From King Arthur and the Isle of Avalon to the incredibly preserved remains of prehistoric trackways and lake villages, the unique wetland of the Somerset Levels and Moors in southwest England. For 50 years, Basque families across the American West have gathered in Elko, Nevada, on the July Fourth weekend to celebrate their culture...
Archaeology in 12 Minutes; Photographing the Invisible
Christian Ris explains the story of archaeology, its challenges and major advances in a narrative style with numerous archived images. Using black light and intricate exploitation of digital photography, the walls of the catacombs of Kom el-Shougafa in Alexandria, the mummies of the Taklamakan Desert in China...
The Secret Passage; prehistoric Florida canoe update; Roman soldier tombstone in UK
In a short animated film, a small boy discovers an ancient grave by accident and witnesses its looting and destruction. After 3 years soaking in a tank filled with a preservative solution, the 1,100 year old Native American dugout canoe. A Roman soldier’s gravestone excavated in 2003 inspires young UK cadets to design a memorial stone for war veterans...
East and southeast Anatolia; English China Shipwreck site in Biscayne Bay
Eastern and southeastern Anatolia in Turkey has great scenic beauty and is an archaeological wonderland with clear traces of many civilizations. It includes Mt. Nimrud, with a massive burial mound and monumental statues. During 2011 excavations on the English China Shipwreck in Biscayne National Park, Florida, the crew hoped to pinpoint the ship’s date and identity...