1 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:06,133 [narrator] Tintagel castle In the west of england, 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,900 A mysterious cliff top Mega structure 3 00:00:09,933 --> 00:00:13,133 And the legendary birthplace Of king arthur. 4 00:00:13,167 --> 00:00:17,500 [win] It's a really Extraordinary site, Everything about it shouts 5 00:00:17,533 --> 00:00:23,400 Prestige, romance, Fairy tale castle. 6 00:00:23,433 --> 00:00:28,033 [narrator] What can these Windswept ruins reveal about This enigmatic ruler? 7 00:00:29,967 --> 00:00:33,733 Is king arthur real Or just imagination? 8 00:00:34,567 --> 00:00:37,333 He was believed to be a hero. 9 00:00:37,367 --> 00:00:42,000 [narrator] Now, investigators Use satellite surveys To unlock the secrets 10 00:00:42,033 --> 00:00:44,700 Of this ancient castle. 11 00:00:44,733 --> 00:00:49,033 And the latest dna technology To decode the mysteries 12 00:00:49,067 --> 00:00:51,067 Of king arthur's time. 13 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:54,333 It's a once in a lifetime type Of find. 14 00:00:54,367 --> 00:00:58,167 [narrator] To reveal the truth Behind the stories Of king arthur. 15 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,533 We digitally deconstruct Layers of history 16 00:01:01,567 --> 00:01:04,833 And unearth the real tintagel. 17 00:01:04,867 --> 00:01:10,800 We uncover magnificent Treasures hidden For 1500 years, 18 00:01:10,833 --> 00:01:15,833 And discover the tumultuous History of arthur And his mighty kingdom. 19 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:30,100 Tintagel castle in cornwall, Western england. 20 00:01:30,133 --> 00:01:33,500 It sits perched on A rocky island surrounded by 21 00:01:33,533 --> 00:01:35,733 The rough seas Of the atlantic ocean. 22 00:01:36,867 --> 00:01:39,100 It's a real enigma, tintagel, 23 00:01:39,133 --> 00:01:42,067 We don't understand really Why people are living in 24 00:01:42,067 --> 00:01:43,467 This extraordinary place. 25 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:47,633 It's stuck out In the middle of nowhere. 26 00:01:47,667 --> 00:01:50,400 [narrator] Legends say That king arthur is conceived 27 00:01:50,433 --> 00:01:52,800 And born at tintagel. 28 00:01:52,833 --> 00:01:57,833 Camelot, where he is said To hold court is lost To history. 29 00:01:57,867 --> 00:02:03,100 Do traces of arthur's story Survive at tintagel castle? 30 00:02:03,133 --> 00:02:07,933 Today, it lies in ruins On two huge cliffs, 31 00:02:07,967 --> 00:02:09,867 Rising from the seas. 32 00:02:15,067 --> 00:02:18,800 Centuries ago, a narrow Land bridge connects 33 00:02:18,833 --> 00:02:23,733 The mainland to the island And links both ends Of the castle. 34 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:29,333 To enter it, a single Paved track leads 35 00:02:29,367 --> 00:02:31,067 To a stone gate house. 36 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,667 Behind a heavy wooden gate, 37 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:38,567 A triangular courtyard With lodgings and stables. 38 00:02:40,367 --> 00:02:45,500 Another wooden gate locked With iron bars guards 39 00:02:45,533 --> 00:02:49,933 The most important building Here, the great hall. 40 00:02:49,967 --> 00:02:54,600 This is where the lord Of the castle lives And entertains his guests. 41 00:02:54,633 --> 00:02:57,100 Is this castle fit for a king? 42 00:03:00,133 --> 00:03:04,933 Archaeologist win scutt Has spent a decade excavating At the site. 43 00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:10,233 He investigates if the castle Could be a royal residence. 44 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,167 You can see the shape Of his castle, at least The lower part. 45 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,800 It would've towered above us, Would have been so impressive. 46 00:03:22,967 --> 00:03:26,067 [narrator] Win heads over To the island to examine 47 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:28,333 The ruined walls Of the great hall. 48 00:03:34,667 --> 00:03:36,333 They're really substantial, 49 00:03:36,367 --> 00:03:41,667 Very well made walls here, And sometime after It was built, not that long. 50 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:45,067 It fell down the cliff And you can see the stubs Of the walls here 51 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:46,733 And over there. 52 00:03:46,767 --> 00:03:49,333 Then they build This smaller hall, 53 00:03:49,367 --> 00:03:51,233 You can see The second wall here. 54 00:03:55,267 --> 00:03:58,167 [narrator] The huge great hall Reveals the wealth 55 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,900 Of tintagel's lord And master. 56 00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:05,767 He can afford to rebuild it Again and again. 57 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,433 They've invested incredible Amounts of labor, 58 00:04:08,467 --> 00:04:11,267 Brought massive amounts Of stone to this site 59 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:15,200 To create a castle That anybody would have been Really proud of, 60 00:04:15,233 --> 00:04:16,367 Perhaps a king. 61 00:04:17,667 --> 00:04:20,600 [narrator] Could this castle Be king arthur's birthplace 62 00:04:20,633 --> 00:04:22,433 As the legend states? 63 00:04:28,433 --> 00:04:33,100 According to legend, Arthur is born In the sixth century ad. 64 00:04:33,133 --> 00:04:36,867 He extracts the sword Excalibur from A magical stone, 65 00:04:36,900 --> 00:04:38,067 And becomes king. 66 00:04:39,867 --> 00:04:41,333 He builds camelot. 67 00:04:41,367 --> 00:04:43,933 His mighty castle and court, 68 00:04:43,967 --> 00:04:47,467 Where he jousts With his knights Like the famous lancelot 69 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:48,700 And galahad. 70 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:55,400 He sits with all 12 of them At a magnificent table, 71 00:04:55,433 --> 00:04:58,567 It's round, so no one Can sit at its head. 72 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,933 The knights follow arthur On an epic quest For the holy grail, 73 00:05:04,967 --> 00:05:07,700 A chalice that christ Is believed to have blessed 74 00:05:07,733 --> 00:05:09,100 At the last supper. 75 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:19,533 Is the imposing great hall At tintagel built In the sixth century ad? 76 00:05:19,567 --> 00:05:23,567 Win investigates Arthur's legendary birthplace. 77 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,600 He looks for clues On the eastern side Of the hall. 78 00:05:28,267 --> 00:05:32,067 Here it borders a steep drop Down the cliff. 79 00:05:32,067 --> 00:05:36,900 Buttresses had to be added In order to support These magnificent walls. 80 00:05:38,267 --> 00:05:41,233 [narrator] Buttresses Are architectural structures 81 00:05:41,267 --> 00:05:43,867 That reinforce Heavy stone walls. 82 00:05:45,167 --> 00:05:48,833 They are usually found On medieval castles And cathedrals, 83 00:05:48,867 --> 00:05:51,300 Like amiens, in france. 84 00:05:51,333 --> 00:05:53,733 Built long after king arthur. 85 00:05:56,333 --> 00:06:01,200 Win next examines A vast defensive wall That surrounds the great hall. 86 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:06,900 You can see these battlements Or crenellations As we call them, 87 00:06:06,933 --> 00:06:09,433 They were introduced To britain by the normans, 88 00:06:09,467 --> 00:06:12,067 And they were found On all castles, 89 00:06:12,067 --> 00:06:16,667 Right across the country From 1066 onwards. 90 00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:20,700 [narrator] The architecture Of the castle reveals Its construction date. 91 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,933 [win] This castle was built In the 1230s, 92 00:06:24,967 --> 00:06:28,500 And this is hundreds of years, In fact, 700 years after 93 00:06:28,533 --> 00:06:30,533 When king arthur Was supposed to have lived. 94 00:06:31,733 --> 00:06:34,333 [narrator] The dating Of this castle at tintagel 95 00:06:34,367 --> 00:06:38,433 Seems to undermine the legend Of king arthur. 96 00:06:38,467 --> 00:06:41,433 But win suspects there's more To the story. 97 00:06:44,267 --> 00:06:48,200 He examines a satellite survey That captures The entire perimeter 98 00:06:48,233 --> 00:06:49,400 Of tintagel island. 99 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:56,233 From above, numerous Rectangular shapes Become visible. 100 00:06:56,267 --> 00:06:58,300 [win] This satellite image Is amazing. 101 00:06:58,333 --> 00:07:01,433 If I zoom into this Particular area here, 102 00:07:01,467 --> 00:07:04,767 I can see one, two, three, Eight buildings. 103 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,233 Then if I move over To another part of the island. 104 00:07:07,267 --> 00:07:10,233 Another group of buildings. 105 00:07:10,267 --> 00:07:15,467 [narrator] Win thinks These buildings may hold More clues up close, 106 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:20,067 He marks a spot On the satellite map And heads to that location. 107 00:07:22,967 --> 00:07:25,133 This wall is standing Two or three feet high, 108 00:07:25,167 --> 00:07:28,533 But originally Would have been substantially Higher, we think. 109 00:07:29,867 --> 00:07:31,600 [narrator] On close Inspection. 110 00:07:31,633 --> 00:07:35,500 These structures seem older Than the castle ruins. 111 00:07:35,533 --> 00:07:38,333 [win] These are just totally Different in plan, 112 00:07:38,367 --> 00:07:43,067 They're just rectangles, No flourishes, No architectural details, 113 00:07:43,067 --> 00:07:46,433 They're much, much earlier Than the 13th century Buildings. 114 00:07:47,867 --> 00:07:51,067 [narrator] Dotted around The island. 115 00:07:51,067 --> 00:07:55,133 Archeologists discovered The foundations Of an ancient settlement. 116 00:07:56,767 --> 00:08:03,567 They find as many As 100 houses With rectangular footprints. 117 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,300 Near the land bridge, Under the ruins of The 13th century great hall, 118 00:08:08,333 --> 00:08:12,067 There's evidence Of a grand hall Fit for royalty, 119 00:08:12,067 --> 00:08:13,700 But much older. 120 00:08:15,167 --> 00:08:17,633 It's the heart Of a vast settlement. 121 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:20,800 On a scale seldom seen In this period. 122 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,567 Does this mysterious Settlement date back To king arthur's time? 123 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:38,400 Win and a team Of archaeologists dig around The older structures. 124 00:08:39,700 --> 00:08:43,333 They recover many Priceless artifacts. 125 00:08:43,367 --> 00:08:46,633 Today, they are kept Under lock and key. 126 00:08:48,967 --> 00:08:51,167 [win] This is some Joining shards 127 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,067 From a large amphora. 128 00:08:53,067 --> 00:08:58,067 An amphora, usually That's sort of big, Carrot shaped vessels, 129 00:08:58,067 --> 00:09:00,933 With two big handles, Very, very strong. 130 00:09:00,967 --> 00:09:04,367 It's got this Very distinctive, Scratched pattern 131 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:05,900 On the shoulder of the vessel. 132 00:09:05,933 --> 00:09:09,300 This one is again Very distinctive. 133 00:09:10,567 --> 00:09:14,300 [narrator] The detailed Decorations are a giveaway. 134 00:09:14,333 --> 00:09:18,367 Potters only use These patterns In a specific time period. 135 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,833 And that time is the fifth And sixth centuries, 136 00:09:21,867 --> 00:09:24,433 So that's gives us A perfect time span 137 00:09:24,467 --> 00:09:26,900 For the early settlement At tintagel. 138 00:09:33,333 --> 00:09:37,067 [narrator] But is there Any specific evidence Of arthur on site? 139 00:09:38,667 --> 00:09:42,667 Win has permission to examine An incredible find. 140 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:45,600 Kept in a place of honor At tintagel. 141 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:53,300 It is a large piece of stone Covered in mysterious writing. 142 00:09:53,333 --> 00:09:55,800 Only two inscriptions Have ever been found, 143 00:09:55,833 --> 00:09:57,667 This one stunned the world, 144 00:09:57,700 --> 00:10:00,033 It's such an important find. 145 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,600 [narrator] The style Of the writing dates From the sixth century, 146 00:10:08,633 --> 00:10:10,933 The time of the legendary King arthur. 147 00:10:11,967 --> 00:10:13,633 What does it say? 148 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:16,533 It's pretty clear That this is latin, 149 00:10:16,567 --> 00:10:20,300 Partly because we have The word "F-I-c-I-t." 150 00:10:20,333 --> 00:10:22,567 Ficit, which means "He made it." 151 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:27,767 And then below it, We have this really Intriguing word. 152 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,200 "A" with that very distinctive V crossbar. 153 00:10:32,233 --> 00:10:34,200 The r with a tail on it. 154 00:10:34,233 --> 00:10:38,733 T, o, this funny Little character which is a g, 155 00:10:38,767 --> 00:10:43,500 And then n, o, v, Which you pronounce as a "U." 156 00:10:43,533 --> 00:10:47,500 So, we have the, The name artognou here. 157 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,267 [narrator] Artognou could be A latin version of the name, Arthur. 158 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:59,433 It's astonishing evidence Of a possible connection Between arthur and tintagel. 159 00:10:59,467 --> 00:11:04,333 Another stepping stone In grounding the legend, In reality. 160 00:11:04,367 --> 00:11:06,400 We don't know who This person was, 161 00:11:06,433 --> 00:11:10,867 But what we do know Is that this stone Was inscribed by someone 162 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:12,800 Who was very familiar With manuscripts, 163 00:11:12,833 --> 00:11:16,700 He was an educated, Possibly high status person. 164 00:11:16,733 --> 00:11:19,100 [narrator] Can other parts Of tintagel castle 165 00:11:19,133 --> 00:11:22,700 Shed more light On king arthur's existence? 166 00:11:22,733 --> 00:11:29,133 The legend also says That arthur is born inside An impenetrable citadel. 167 00:11:29,167 --> 00:11:33,900 Does this castle have all The defenses to protect An infant king? 168 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:50,133 [narrator] Tintagel castle In cornwall. 169 00:11:50,167 --> 00:11:54,800 The remote windswept location Where king arthur is said 170 00:11:54,833 --> 00:11:57,067 To have been born and live. 171 00:11:59,867 --> 00:12:03,333 Win scutt is on a mission To find the truth behind 172 00:12:03,367 --> 00:12:07,533 The legend of the famous king And tintagel's part In his story. 173 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:12,400 He examines the account Written by geoffrey Of monmouth, 174 00:12:12,433 --> 00:12:15,367 A welsh monk who lives In the 12th century. 175 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,133 600 years after king arthur. 176 00:12:18,167 --> 00:12:21,200 Geoffrey of monmouth Was the first person to write 177 00:12:21,233 --> 00:12:24,167 About the story Of king arthur. 178 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,733 Monmouth describes tintagel As the impenetrable fortress, 179 00:12:28,767 --> 00:12:35,067 A place that's situated upon The sea and on every side, Surrounded by it. 180 00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:38,100 [narrator] If the castle is As monmouth describes, 181 00:12:38,133 --> 00:12:41,933 Then his account of arthur May be reliable too. 182 00:12:41,967 --> 00:12:45,067 Win wants to find out If the story is accurate. 183 00:12:48,367 --> 00:12:52,867 In the days of king arthur, Tintagel has no massive Stone walls 184 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:56,100 Or tall castle keeps. 185 00:12:56,133 --> 00:13:00,267 Instead, archaeologists Believe there is just A wooden fence 186 00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:03,067 That runs around A rocky outcrop to the south 187 00:13:03,067 --> 00:13:04,833 And along the land bridge. 188 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:09,500 To the north, More wooden fences, 189 00:13:09,533 --> 00:13:13,667 And a ditch 130 feet long. 190 00:13:15,267 --> 00:13:17,767 There's only one way Into the castle, 191 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,067 But it's completely open, 192 00:13:20,100 --> 00:13:23,533 With no sign of an iron gate Or a drawbridge. 193 00:13:25,100 --> 00:13:28,333 Can this castle Really be impenetrable? 194 00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:37,567 Any invading army Trying to reach tintagel By sea, 195 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,133 Only has two possible Landing options. 196 00:13:41,633 --> 00:13:45,633 A rocky harbor On the northern side Of the island. 197 00:13:45,667 --> 00:13:48,967 And a haven, A water inlet leading To a beach. 198 00:13:50,067 --> 00:13:51,867 Win heads to the haven. 199 00:13:56,333 --> 00:13:59,867 This whole bay here Is very tight, very steep, 200 00:13:59,900 --> 00:14:01,333 And there's A very small beach, 201 00:14:01,367 --> 00:14:04,133 So there's no way You could bring up A whole army. 202 00:14:04,167 --> 00:14:08,433 [narrator] And from here, The invaders journey Gets much harder. 203 00:14:08,467 --> 00:14:10,633 [win] We're here On a nice day today, 204 00:14:10,667 --> 00:14:13,467 But many days On this wild cornish coast. 205 00:14:13,500 --> 00:14:15,467 The weather can get Quite fearsome 206 00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:17,867 And the rocks here Will be really slippery, 207 00:14:17,900 --> 00:14:20,733 You can try grabbing Onto tufts of grass up there, 208 00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:25,867 But you really are vulnerable To attacks from the defendants On the top step. 209 00:14:25,900 --> 00:14:29,767 [narrator] Tintagel Is impenetrable From this landing spot. 210 00:14:33,667 --> 00:14:37,167 How about the second location On the north side Of the island? 211 00:14:38,133 --> 00:14:41,233 Win examines it closely. 212 00:14:41,267 --> 00:14:44,333 This great big wall, What we call the iron gate 213 00:14:44,367 --> 00:14:46,200 Actually belongs To the 13th century, 214 00:14:46,233 --> 00:14:48,767 But if there was A key side here In the 13th century, 215 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:50,600 There may well have been A key side here, 216 00:14:50,633 --> 00:14:52,600 Back in the fifth And sixth century, 217 00:14:52,633 --> 00:14:54,833 But, it's a suitable place Where you could pull in ships 218 00:14:54,867 --> 00:14:58,733 And tie them up And offload goods. 219 00:14:58,767 --> 00:15:03,833 [narrator] A hostile army Could take advantage Of the location and land. 220 00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:06,767 But, they soon hit A huge challenge. 221 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:09,200 It's so steep here. 222 00:15:09,233 --> 00:15:11,167 Just look at how steep This slope is, 223 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,600 You'd have a real job Attacking this. 224 00:15:15,133 --> 00:15:17,367 [narrator] The defenders Of tintagel castle 225 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,567 Always have the advantage Of height. 226 00:15:20,867 --> 00:15:23,433 They can decimate Any landing force 227 00:15:23,467 --> 00:15:25,900 Attacking from the sea. 228 00:15:25,933 --> 00:15:29,467 Is the castle safe From a land attack too? 229 00:15:33,767 --> 00:15:37,767 Win examines the position Of the main entrance. 230 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:42,500 Any landward attack Would have to come through This very narrow pathway. 231 00:15:42,533 --> 00:15:45,533 On one side, you've got This really steep wall 232 00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:48,067 Of rock which is just Completely unscalable. 233 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:52,500 And on the other, They would have to cross This deep ditch. 234 00:15:52,533 --> 00:15:56,833 Win suspects the entrance Into the castle Is also impregnable. 235 00:15:56,867 --> 00:15:58,733 Just like monmouth says. 236 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:05,300 He looks for clues inside The great ditch. 237 00:16:05,333 --> 00:16:09,767 The steep sides of this Show that it's actually Been deeply cut artificially. 238 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,433 [narrator] At the time Of king arthur. 239 00:16:13,467 --> 00:16:19,200 The great ditch Is 15 feet deep, Trapping the enemy. 240 00:16:19,233 --> 00:16:23,833 The attacking army Would actually be pelted By armaments of all sorts, 241 00:16:23,867 --> 00:16:26,733 And then they'd have to cross This flat bottom, 242 00:16:26,767 --> 00:16:29,667 And, so, they're unlikely To survive this crossing. 243 00:16:31,467 --> 00:16:34,933 [narrator] The ditch Provides an incredibly Effective barrier. 244 00:16:36,267 --> 00:16:38,967 The only option left For an attacking army 245 00:16:39,067 --> 00:16:41,800 Would be The narrow pathway on top. 246 00:16:41,833 --> 00:16:43,733 Even if you had A massive army, 247 00:16:43,767 --> 00:16:48,133 They will be funneled Into that very narrow slot And picked off one by one. 248 00:16:48,167 --> 00:16:50,367 That's the art Of military strategy, 249 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,067 If you're building A defense to constrain it. 250 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:01,767 [narrator] In the sixth Century, tintagel castle Is impenetrable. 251 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,533 Monmouth's description Of the birthplace Of the legendary king 252 00:17:05,567 --> 00:17:07,600 Is extremely accurate. 253 00:17:07,633 --> 00:17:11,300 An exciting hint That king arthur Might have existed. 254 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,933 It's a revelation That can also help explain The strange story 255 00:17:17,967 --> 00:17:19,567 Of his magical birth. 256 00:17:23,233 --> 00:17:25,633 Monmouth writes That arthur's father, 257 00:17:25,667 --> 00:17:29,167 Uther pendragon falls in love With igerna, 258 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,400 The wife of The duke of cornwall. 259 00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:36,833 To defend her, The duke locks her 260 00:17:36,867 --> 00:17:40,167 In the remote and impenetrable Tintagel castle. 261 00:17:44,767 --> 00:17:47,133 Pendragon asks merlin The sorcerer, 262 00:17:47,167 --> 00:17:49,100 To make him look like The duke, 263 00:17:49,133 --> 00:17:52,133 So he can enter Tintagel unchallenged, 264 00:17:52,167 --> 00:17:54,067 And seduce his wife. 265 00:17:55,467 --> 00:18:00,433 The deception works And pendragon spends a night With igerna. 266 00:18:00,467 --> 00:18:04,100 -nine months later, Arthur is born. -[baby crying] 267 00:18:08,100 --> 00:18:11,733 Monmouth's descriptions Of tintagel match the legend 268 00:18:11,767 --> 00:18:13,833 And stand up to scrutiny. 269 00:18:15,333 --> 00:18:18,333 But, the stories also say That arthur's kingdom 270 00:18:18,367 --> 00:18:20,667 Is attacked by A fierce invader. 271 00:18:22,933 --> 00:18:27,200 What can new evidence Reveal about his life And times? 272 00:18:27,233 --> 00:18:30,133 Is there really a warrior King arthur 273 00:18:30,167 --> 00:18:33,433 Defending his land From a formidable enemy? 274 00:18:47,433 --> 00:18:52,300 [narrator] The legendary King arthur is said to be born In tintagel castle. 275 00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:55,100 A tightly defended stronghold. 276 00:18:59,267 --> 00:19:04,200 Medieval writers depict him As a king attacked On all sides. 277 00:19:04,233 --> 00:19:08,367 Forced to protect His lands From a terrifying enemy. 278 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,867 Can new archaeological Evidence add more truth To the legend? 279 00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:19,700 In staffordshire, 200 miles north of tintagel. 280 00:19:19,733 --> 00:19:23,233 Archaeologists unearth A unique treasure trove. 281 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:28,900 Beautifully decorated Gold pieces make up 282 00:19:28,933 --> 00:19:32,333 A magnificent Warrior's helmet. 283 00:19:32,367 --> 00:19:37,733 A gem encrusted gold cross Is a sign of the warriors' Christian faith. 284 00:19:40,633 --> 00:19:43,500 And an engraved Silver ornament, 285 00:19:43,533 --> 00:19:46,067 The pommel of a deadly sword. 286 00:19:48,067 --> 00:19:51,833 These incredible items Date to king arthur's time. 287 00:19:53,267 --> 00:19:56,700 Is this extraordinary Golden horde his? 288 00:19:59,433 --> 00:20:03,267 Joe perry has special access To examine the artifacts, 289 00:20:04,333 --> 00:20:06,933 He investigates Who they belong to, 290 00:20:06,967 --> 00:20:12,100 And what they can reveal About the life and times Of the legendary king. 291 00:20:12,133 --> 00:20:14,800 We have a suite of objects Down here. 292 00:20:14,833 --> 00:20:17,167 These are from A very high status hilt 293 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,467 From a type of long knife Or dagger 294 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:21,000 Called a seax. 295 00:20:21,033 --> 00:20:25,333 We have a pommel cap With this wonderful Cloisonne decoration. 296 00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:28,733 Below that, we have A small hilt guard. 297 00:20:28,767 --> 00:20:33,900 Almost every object In the staffordshire hoard Relates to military gear. 298 00:20:35,267 --> 00:20:37,367 [narrator] Who are The formidable warriors 299 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,367 Who own these weapons? 300 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,133 Could arthur be one of them? 301 00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:45,467 Joe finds another clue Which links this horde 302 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:48,333 To an iconic part Of the arthur legend. 303 00:20:48,367 --> 00:20:51,433 There are probably around 100 swords represented In the hoard. 304 00:20:51,467 --> 00:20:54,067 They're all quite different To each other. 305 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:58,400 We have a pommel cap here With two fighting horses, 306 00:20:58,433 --> 00:21:02,867 And further here, we have These snarling wolf like faces 307 00:21:02,900 --> 00:21:06,367 Peering out the patterns And the motifs 308 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,733 And the symbols displayed On each sword 309 00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:11,300 Are probably unique To that sword and its owner, 310 00:21:11,333 --> 00:21:13,967 And even some of these swords Might have even had Their own names. 311 00:21:15,733 --> 00:21:20,367 [narrator] King arthur's Famous sword has its own place In the legend. 312 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,400 Arthur draws it from a stone. 313 00:21:23,433 --> 00:21:26,800 One of these swords Might even be excalibur. 314 00:21:29,233 --> 00:21:33,233 Joe needs more evidence, He singles out an object, 315 00:21:33,267 --> 00:21:35,667 One of the oldest In the hoard. 316 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:38,367 We have two boars Depicted on this side, 317 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,600 And the boar is, of course, Quite an aggressive And strong creature. 318 00:21:42,633 --> 00:21:44,400 And actually on The opposite side Of his pommel cap. 319 00:21:44,433 --> 00:21:49,133 You also have a humanoid head, We believe this might be Depicting woden 320 00:21:49,167 --> 00:21:52,433 Or perhaps, odin, Who would be His scandinavian equivalent. 321 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,267 [narrator] Woden is the king Of the anglo-saxon gods 322 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:00,633 And the protector Of fallen warriors And soldiers. 323 00:22:01,867 --> 00:22:06,433 The anglo-saxons worship him Before they turn christian. 324 00:22:06,467 --> 00:22:09,600 His image here reveals That the astonishing hoard 325 00:22:09,633 --> 00:22:13,300 Does not belong To king arthur, But to his enemy. 326 00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:22,967 In the fifth century ad, The roman empire crumbles 327 00:22:23,067 --> 00:22:25,533 And withdraws its army From britain. 328 00:22:28,533 --> 00:22:32,500 Anglo-saxon tribes From northern europe Seize the opportunity, 329 00:22:32,533 --> 00:22:34,800 And invade from the east, 330 00:22:34,833 --> 00:22:38,633 Their warriors sailed The north sea And rode deep inland. 331 00:22:40,267 --> 00:22:43,733 They slowly push Into all corners of britain, 332 00:22:43,767 --> 00:22:47,100 Fighting the native Romano-british kingdoms For land. 333 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,200 The invading anglo-saxons Could be the deadly foe 334 00:22:54,233 --> 00:22:55,867 In the legend of king arthur. 335 00:22:57,233 --> 00:23:01,233 And more evidence That it is grounded in truth, 336 00:23:01,267 --> 00:23:05,433 Is the staffordshire hoard, A silent witness To the story as well. 337 00:23:07,433 --> 00:23:12,067 Joe suspects that clues Can be found in the condition Of the objects. 338 00:23:13,067 --> 00:23:15,600 If you look at something Like this pommel cap, 339 00:23:15,633 --> 00:23:18,400 With a nice big dent in it, It's like this, 340 00:23:18,433 --> 00:23:20,600 We take this one here, For example, 341 00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:23,167 You have these bent pins Extruding from it. 342 00:23:23,867 --> 00:23:25,400 This is some plow damage. 343 00:23:25,433 --> 00:23:28,467 This isn't damaged Due to time, this because These swords 344 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:30,300 Have been taken apart Quite violently. 345 00:23:31,467 --> 00:23:33,733 [narrator] The damage To the weapons is a clue 346 00:23:33,767 --> 00:23:36,667 To how they come To be buried here. 347 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:39,667 It's very likely That the objects In the hoard 348 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:41,900 Come from the weapons Of defeated warriors, 349 00:23:41,933 --> 00:23:45,067 We think it's been accumulated From one or more battles. 350 00:23:50,967 --> 00:23:53,500 [narrator] This stunning hoard Could be evidence 351 00:23:53,533 --> 00:23:57,067 Of british successes against An army of anglo-saxons. 352 00:23:58,533 --> 00:24:02,800 A king like arthur Might have been The triumphant victor. 353 00:24:02,833 --> 00:24:04,700 [soldiers yelling] 354 00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:08,500 Can a recent discovery Reveal proof 355 00:24:08,533 --> 00:24:11,433 Of one of arthur's Legendary battles? 356 00:24:11,467 --> 00:24:14,233 And of the king behind The legends? 357 00:24:24,767 --> 00:24:27,600 In legend, King arthur is conceived 358 00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:29,667 In the stronghold of tintagel. 359 00:24:31,067 --> 00:24:33,967 And born into a world Of violence during 360 00:24:34,067 --> 00:24:36,233 The anglo-saxon invasions Of britain. 361 00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:41,267 Medieval historian Geoffrey of monmouth records 362 00:24:41,300 --> 00:24:43,633 That one of arthur's Most vicious battles 363 00:24:43,667 --> 00:24:46,167 Takes place in the city Of the legion. 364 00:24:48,267 --> 00:24:51,433 Arthur comes out victorious. 365 00:24:51,467 --> 00:24:55,267 Is there Any archaeological evidence Of this brutal battle? 366 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:57,733 -[soldiers yelling] -[swords clashing] 367 00:25:00,067 --> 00:25:03,867 David mason suspects Chester in northwest england 368 00:25:03,900 --> 00:25:05,733 Might be the location. 369 00:25:07,900 --> 00:25:09,933 It is once a roman city, 370 00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:12,633 And has a legion based On site. 371 00:25:13,533 --> 00:25:15,367 It could be the city Of the legion 372 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:17,100 That monmouth writes about. 373 00:25:18,967 --> 00:25:22,067 And only two miles south At heronbridge. 374 00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:24,067 There is important evidence. 375 00:25:24,700 --> 00:25:27,067 Traces of a fierce conflict. 376 00:25:30,633 --> 00:25:36,167 Here, archaeologists uncover Almost 200 skeletons buried In a field. 377 00:25:37,567 --> 00:25:42,067 The bones show signs Of violent trauma. 378 00:25:42,067 --> 00:25:44,867 Deep gashes that look like Cuts from a blade 379 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:48,733 And gaping holes From axe or hammer blows. 380 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:55,067 They are buried at the time Of the legendary king arthur 381 00:25:55,067 --> 00:26:00,400 And their careful arrangement Reveals they are the war dead Of the winning side. 382 00:26:01,633 --> 00:26:03,867 Could these remains Be evidence 383 00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:08,200 Of the famous Arthurian victory, geoffrey Of monmouth describes? 384 00:26:14,933 --> 00:26:18,300 David wants to find out If the battle site Is also here, 385 00:26:18,333 --> 00:26:20,333 Next to the cemetery. 386 00:26:20,367 --> 00:26:23,867 He investigates a mysterious Structure found nearby. 387 00:26:25,367 --> 00:26:28,467 As you look across The open fields From the modern road, 388 00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:32,567 You can see in the surface, A slight mound, 389 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:36,133 Just a bump in the field, Which is quite prominent At its southern end. 390 00:26:37,833 --> 00:26:41,567 [narrator] The mound might be A manmade defensive position, 391 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:45,067 Evidence of The missing battlefield. 392 00:26:45,067 --> 00:26:49,067 To find out, david examines A similar construction. 393 00:26:49,067 --> 00:26:51,967 Just 20 miles west. 394 00:26:52,067 --> 00:26:54,067 [david] There's a large stitch Besides me here. 395 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:56,067 And on the far side, Some elevated ground 396 00:26:56,100 --> 00:26:59,367 Which is formed by The material that was Excavated from the ditch. 397 00:27:01,633 --> 00:27:06,433 [narrator] David investigates What military advantage These structures might offer. 398 00:27:06,467 --> 00:27:10,067 [david] So, any attacking Forces making its way down Into the ditch, 399 00:27:10,067 --> 00:27:12,933 Which is quite slimy And wet and boggy. 400 00:27:12,967 --> 00:27:15,700 Meanwhile, the chaps Are standing up here On top of this bank, 401 00:27:15,733 --> 00:27:18,767 Meters above them Have great advantage. 402 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,800 Oh, they can chuck Things down, missiles down At the attacking force, 403 00:27:22,833 --> 00:27:25,133 And they have the advantage Of about seven, 404 00:27:25,167 --> 00:27:27,533 Eight meters height Above those who are Struggling away 405 00:27:27,567 --> 00:27:29,300 In the bottom of the ditch. 406 00:27:29,333 --> 00:27:32,333 It's a pretty formidable Defensive system. 407 00:27:34,967 --> 00:27:36,800 [narrator] The defensive Earthworks here 408 00:27:36,833 --> 00:27:39,167 Tower over 25 feet tall. 409 00:27:40,533 --> 00:27:42,600 There are wooden Revetments on top 410 00:27:42,633 --> 00:27:45,900 And a deep depression At the base. 411 00:27:45,933 --> 00:27:50,800 In battle, soldiers Stand guard behind The wooden walls. 412 00:27:50,833 --> 00:27:52,967 They pick off The enemies below, 413 00:27:53,067 --> 00:27:56,867 Trapped like flies In the muddy dike. 414 00:27:56,900 --> 00:28:00,067 David is convinced That the mount at heronbridge 415 00:28:00,067 --> 00:28:04,500 Is also manmade And is conclusive evidence Of the battle site. 416 00:28:05,833 --> 00:28:09,067 But is this battle, The one that monmouth Describes? 417 00:28:10,467 --> 00:28:13,800 In his account, king arthur Is the clear winner. 418 00:28:16,667 --> 00:28:22,800 David investigates another Historical report written In the eighth century ad. 419 00:28:24,533 --> 00:28:28,633 [david] We know From the writings Of the chronicler bede 420 00:28:28,667 --> 00:28:31,667 That the battle occurs Somewhere near chester 421 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:35,467 And heronbridge Is, in fact, two miles South of chester, 422 00:28:35,500 --> 00:28:39,067 But as a resounding Anglo-saxon victory. 423 00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:41,867 Bede tells us the name Of the anglo-saxon king, 424 00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:43,933 Which is ethelfrid. 425 00:28:43,967 --> 00:28:48,167 He tells us the names Of some of the british kings And princes. 426 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,433 But nowhere does he mention The name arthur. 427 00:28:52,933 --> 00:28:55,400 [narrator] Bede's account Suggests this battle 428 00:28:55,433 --> 00:28:57,633 Is not the one arthur leads, 429 00:28:57,667 --> 00:29:00,500 But it is proof of unrest In the area. 430 00:29:01,167 --> 00:29:02,667 Offa's dyke. 431 00:29:02,700 --> 00:29:05,933 The huge defensive earthwork West of heronbridge 432 00:29:05,967 --> 00:29:10,133 Could provide important clues To where arthur's battle Might be. 433 00:29:10,167 --> 00:29:14,600 Offa's dyke, This massive structure Is also a boundary, 434 00:29:14,633 --> 00:29:18,833 It sets the limit To the anglo-saxon lands On one side 435 00:29:18,867 --> 00:29:21,633 And the british territory On the other. 436 00:29:22,967 --> 00:29:25,400 [narrator] This solid man made Structure stretches 437 00:29:25,433 --> 00:29:28,600 For over 150 miles From north to south. 438 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:33,800 And it is built by The anglo-saxons To protect themselves 439 00:29:33,833 --> 00:29:35,467 From british attacks. 440 00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:42,667 This vast boundary is evidence Of numerous battles, 441 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:45,733 Many of which are won By the britons. 442 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,133 In the fifth And sixth centuries ad, 443 00:29:53,167 --> 00:29:55,933 The native britons Of the west stand strong 444 00:29:55,967 --> 00:29:58,233 Against the anglo-saxon Invaders. 445 00:30:02,567 --> 00:30:05,000 Separated into small kingdoms, 446 00:30:05,033 --> 00:30:08,733 They fight again and again To protect their land. 447 00:30:11,100 --> 00:30:15,433 Later, historians named The heroic british Warrior chiefs. 448 00:30:15,467 --> 00:30:18,267 The most famous Of which is king arthur. 449 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:25,833 But, the legend also says That king arthur 450 00:30:25,867 --> 00:30:30,533 Unites these british kingdoms And pushes The invading armies out. 451 00:30:32,767 --> 00:30:36,133 What can cutting edge dna Research reveal about 452 00:30:36,167 --> 00:30:38,800 The truth behind this part Of the legend? 453 00:30:40,233 --> 00:30:43,833 Does arthur manage to protect His kingdom from invasion? 454 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,633 [narrator] Legends say King arthur is born In the stronghold of tintagel. 455 00:31:00,833 --> 00:31:03,867 In the sixth century ad. 456 00:31:03,900 --> 00:31:08,533 Investigators discovered That the stories are rooted In historical reality. 457 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:16,200 But, king arthur is also said To rule over a prosperous British kingdom, 458 00:31:16,233 --> 00:31:18,900 Free of anglo-saxons. 459 00:31:18,933 --> 00:31:22,400 Is there evidence Of this prosperity At tintagel? 460 00:31:29,767 --> 00:31:32,900 Archaeologists on unearth Astounding objects 461 00:31:32,933 --> 00:31:35,467 Near tintagel castle's Great hall. 462 00:31:36,867 --> 00:31:39,667 An amphora for wine From greece. 463 00:31:40,967 --> 00:31:44,300 A red bowl From western anatolia 464 00:31:44,333 --> 00:31:46,733 And glassware From southern france. 465 00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:51,733 They date back To the sixth century, 466 00:31:51,767 --> 00:31:55,700 And are evidence That tintagel is an incredibly Wealthy place. 467 00:31:57,067 --> 00:32:00,267 With a population bigger Than london at the time. 468 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:04,200 This seaside stronghold Is an important hub Of commerce 469 00:32:04,233 --> 00:32:07,833 That trades with distant Corners of the world. 470 00:32:07,867 --> 00:32:11,567 What does tintagel reveal About the legend Of king arthur? 471 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,633 Win scutt investigates Tintagel and its many finds. 472 00:32:21,433 --> 00:32:23,600 [win] The artifacts we get From tintagel are just 473 00:32:23,633 --> 00:32:26,100 Many and varied And very rich. 474 00:32:26,133 --> 00:32:29,133 We think that this was Probably the home 475 00:32:29,167 --> 00:32:32,400 Or one of the homes Of royalty. 476 00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:35,767 [narrator] Tintagel Is a powerful town 477 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:37,867 During king arthur's time. 478 00:32:37,900 --> 00:32:39,867 A possible royal residence, 479 00:32:39,900 --> 00:32:43,433 And one of the centers Of a bustling british kingdom. 480 00:32:43,467 --> 00:32:46,733 We do know that there was A kingdom of dumnonia. 481 00:32:46,767 --> 00:32:49,100 Covering cornwall And devon, 482 00:32:49,133 --> 00:32:52,833 In other words, That southern peninsula Of britain. 483 00:32:52,867 --> 00:32:56,933 Tintagel may have been Like the royal capital Of that kingdom. 484 00:32:58,333 --> 00:33:01,233 [narrator] Do tintagel And the kingdom of dumnonia 485 00:33:01,267 --> 00:33:06,100 Remain free From invasion, like Arthur's legend describes? 486 00:33:08,233 --> 00:33:12,667 Duncan sayer believes clues May lie in ancient dna. 487 00:33:14,633 --> 00:33:17,233 He examines skeletons Recovered from 488 00:33:17,267 --> 00:33:21,733 A small sixth century Burial ground in oakington In the east of england. 489 00:33:21,767 --> 00:33:27,167 This is a zone that culturally We would describe as The early anglo-saxon host. 490 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:31,900 [narrator] Duncan and his team Extract dna from the bones. 491 00:33:31,933 --> 00:33:37,600 The extraordinary preservation Of the bodies leads To a remarkable breakthrough. 492 00:33:37,633 --> 00:33:43,167 We're able to get Full genomic sequencing For the first time 493 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,233 From anglo-saxon material, Nobody's ever managed That before. 494 00:33:47,267 --> 00:33:50,900 [narrator] Duncan compares This anglo-saxon genetic Fingerprint 495 00:33:50,933 --> 00:33:54,367 To the dna of modern day People from across britain. 496 00:33:57,167 --> 00:34:02,100 This can help reveal If the anglo-saxons pushed Into the west of britain, 497 00:34:02,133 --> 00:34:05,167 Or whether it remains free From invasion 498 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,567 As the legend Of arthur states. 499 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:12,067 He translates the results Into a heat map of britain, 500 00:34:12,067 --> 00:34:16,467 That shows anglo-saxon Genetic heritage in red. 501 00:34:16,500 --> 00:34:19,333 You see a most significant Contribution in the south Of britain, 502 00:34:19,367 --> 00:34:23,067 And then a significant Contribution into the sort Of midlands 503 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:26,067 And the east coast Of britain across here. 504 00:34:27,567 --> 00:34:30,267 [narrator] Anglo-saxon Genetic heritage is strongest 505 00:34:30,300 --> 00:34:33,100 In the east and the center Of britain. 506 00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:36,567 In the west, A different story emerges. 507 00:34:37,867 --> 00:34:41,867 The blue to the west, Shows much less Of a contribution. 508 00:34:44,300 --> 00:34:46,967 [narrator] Modern day people In the west of britain have 509 00:34:47,067 --> 00:34:50,467 Much less anglo-saxon dna Than those in the east. 510 00:34:52,500 --> 00:34:55,867 This suggests the anglo-saxons Only managed to push 511 00:34:55,900 --> 00:34:57,633 Into these lands much later. 512 00:35:00,333 --> 00:35:02,733 During the early centuries Of the invasions 513 00:35:02,767 --> 00:35:05,100 When king arthur Is said to live. 514 00:35:05,133 --> 00:35:07,400 The british kingdoms Remained free. 515 00:35:10,167 --> 00:35:13,500 They are protected By powerful military leaders 516 00:35:14,767 --> 00:35:18,933 Who could be the inspiration For the legend of king arthur. 517 00:35:24,333 --> 00:35:28,433 The romano-british commander Lucius artorius castus 518 00:35:28,467 --> 00:35:30,700 Fights foreign invaders. 519 00:35:30,733 --> 00:35:33,733 He may have inspired The naming of arthur. 520 00:35:35,567 --> 00:35:38,567 The british prince Athrwys ap meurig 521 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:40,900 Also shares the arthur name. 522 00:35:40,933 --> 00:35:45,267 He rules over The british kingdom gwent In the seventh century ad. 523 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:49,233 Another british king Of the era. 524 00:35:49,267 --> 00:35:54,400 Owain ddantgwyn rules Gwynedd and fights off The anglo-saxons. 525 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,600 Riothamus, a fifth century Britain king 526 00:35:59,633 --> 00:36:02,067 Leads his army into gaul. 527 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:06,067 Geoffrey of monmouth writes King arthur led just Such an invasion. 528 00:36:09,700 --> 00:36:13,300 The real arthur is lost To history, 529 00:36:13,333 --> 00:36:17,833 But he might be a combination Of these and other formidable Warriors. 530 00:36:20,367 --> 00:36:22,833 As the british kingdoms face Final defeat 531 00:36:22,867 --> 00:36:24,867 In the ninth century. 532 00:36:24,900 --> 00:36:30,400 The legend of an earlier hero Inspires the britons To keep on fighting. 533 00:36:30,433 --> 00:36:34,467 There are many stories, But I think the most common Theme of all of these 534 00:36:34,500 --> 00:36:39,900 Is that king arthur Was a warlord who lived In the fifth, sixth century. 535 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:45,200 [narrator] But if there Isn't one identifiable King arthur. 536 00:36:45,233 --> 00:36:48,733 Why are the legends So enduring? 537 00:36:48,767 --> 00:36:53,200 How does tintagel castle Contribute to arthur's Continued popularity? 538 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:08,767 [narrator] The legendary King arthur is described As a mighty warrior, 539 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:14,200 A fearsome king who spends His life protecting his lands. 540 00:37:14,233 --> 00:37:18,467 Modern research reveals That the legend is rooted Surprisingly deep 541 00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:20,867 In historic reality. 542 00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:23,867 King arthur may be one Of many real warriors 543 00:37:23,900 --> 00:37:25,467 Who defend the british Kingdoms from 544 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:27,200 The invading anglo-saxons. 545 00:37:27,233 --> 00:37:29,400 [soldiers yelling] 546 00:37:29,433 --> 00:37:32,967 But why is this ancient legend Still so appealing? 547 00:37:33,067 --> 00:37:35,800 He was believed to be a hero And now he's become 548 00:37:35,833 --> 00:37:38,200 The national hero, The world hero. 549 00:37:42,867 --> 00:37:46,867 [narrator] Win scutt Investigates how the legend Takes such a strong hold 550 00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:50,500 In later centuries, Surviving until today. 551 00:37:50,533 --> 00:37:52,900 He looks for clues In tintagel, 552 00:37:52,933 --> 00:37:54,933 Arthur's legendary birthplace. 553 00:37:57,067 --> 00:37:59,167 He examines the great hall. 554 00:38:00,767 --> 00:38:04,200 It's built 700 years after Arthur's lifetime, 555 00:38:04,233 --> 00:38:07,067 And 100 years After monmouth's account. 556 00:38:08,267 --> 00:38:10,800 By richard, The earl of cornwall. 557 00:38:12,267 --> 00:38:15,167 It's made of this Very wonderful, local stone, 558 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:18,267 The shillot or slate, It's a metamorphic rock, 559 00:38:18,300 --> 00:38:21,233 And we think that They actually probably used 560 00:38:21,267 --> 00:38:24,467 The stone from The earlier buildings On the site. 561 00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:28,100 [narrator] Slate is a type Of layered rock 562 00:38:28,133 --> 00:38:30,367 That is found On the cornish coast. 563 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:34,500 It's been used as A building material Since roman times. 564 00:38:34,533 --> 00:38:40,233 But, by the 13th century, Builders have swapped slate For stone blocks. 565 00:38:40,267 --> 00:38:43,767 Why does earl richard Use old fashioned slate? 566 00:38:45,067 --> 00:38:47,567 It seems really likely That richard, earl of cornwall 567 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:50,167 Was trying to connect himself With the arthurian legend. 568 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,467 [narrator] Richard, Centuries later, 569 00:38:53,500 --> 00:38:56,400 Is inspired by the tales Of arthur to build 570 00:38:56,433 --> 00:39:00,700 A magnificent castle fit For a legendary king. 571 00:39:05,967 --> 00:39:09,533 Other parts of tintagel Reveal similar evidence. 572 00:39:12,267 --> 00:39:15,533 This is clearly An artificial tunnel. 573 00:39:15,567 --> 00:39:17,200 And it's been chiseled. 574 00:39:17,233 --> 00:39:22,067 These are metal chisels, Iron chisels that cut this. 575 00:39:22,100 --> 00:39:26,100 [narrator] A similar structure Features in another branch Of the arthur legend, 576 00:39:26,133 --> 00:39:29,533 Involving one Of his knights, tristan. 577 00:39:29,567 --> 00:39:32,867 It might be to do With the tristan And iseult myth, 578 00:39:32,900 --> 00:39:34,267 We know they met in the cave. 579 00:39:35,467 --> 00:39:37,833 [narrator] This intriguing Manmade construction 580 00:39:37,867 --> 00:39:42,567 Reveals that king arthur And his knights are already Famous in medieval times. 581 00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:47,900 The legend of arthur Was absolutely ingrained In everybody. 582 00:39:47,933 --> 00:39:53,133 They wanted to create A kind of theme park here Back in the 13th century. 583 00:39:53,167 --> 00:39:56,767 [narrator] Win discovers That the popularity Of king arthur begins 584 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,200 Soon after monmouth's account. 585 00:39:59,233 --> 00:40:03,267 Over later centuries, The stories grow and develop. 586 00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:08,433 Transforming king arthur Into a literary And movie superstar. 587 00:40:08,467 --> 00:40:12,500 But, surprisingly, The stories start with truth. 588 00:40:14,367 --> 00:40:20,333 [win] We have to see arthur As a product of imaginative Storytelling. 589 00:40:20,367 --> 00:40:24,567 But, he, or a number of people That fed the story 590 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:26,667 Probably existed somewhere. 591 00:40:28,967 --> 00:40:33,933 [narrator] Today, Investigators are untangling The threads of the legends. 592 00:40:33,967 --> 00:40:37,600 Their new discoveries expose The historical truth 593 00:40:37,633 --> 00:40:40,533 At the root of The many stories Of king arthur. 594 00:40:46,067 --> 00:40:50,700 The truth behind the legends Reveals that tintagel. 595 00:40:50,733 --> 00:40:55,867 Arthur's legendary birthplace Is an impenetrable citadel By the sea. 596 00:40:56,933 --> 00:41:00,800 A rich city fit for a king. 597 00:41:00,833 --> 00:41:05,333 In arthur's sixth century, Heroic british kings fight A formidable enemy, 598 00:41:05,367 --> 00:41:07,067 The anglo-saxons. 599 00:41:09,067 --> 00:41:12,200 And wield extraordinary Personalized weapons 600 00:41:12,233 --> 00:41:13,833 Like excalibur. 601 00:41:16,967 --> 00:41:20,467 By piecing together These clues. 602 00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:26,733 King arthur emerges From legend and myth To take his place in history.