Vanessa Collingridge and the team answer listener’s historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all ‘make’ history.
Programme 12
19 June 2007
“Doggerland”
Doggerland is the name given to the former landmass in the southern North Sea which connected what we now think of as East Anglia and Kent with France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Now, a team of scientists based at the University of Birmingham have mapped this area of the sea bed using technology developed by the oil and gas exploration industry. The results include 3D graphics which show clearly the landscape that the sea bed of the North Sea now hides.
Making History consulted Professor Vince Gaffney at the University of Birmingham and Professor Chris Stringer at the National History Museum.
“Doggerland: the cultural dynamics of a shifting coastline” Bryony J Coles Geological Societty" London, Special Publications; 2000; v. 175; p. 393-401;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2000.175.01.27
Vikings in the Med
We tend to think of the Vikings travelling from east to west - but how far south did they get?
Making History consulted Professor David Munro Director of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
Making History spoke with Dr James Symonds of Archaeological Consultancy and Research at the University of Sheffield about new evidence for a little-known incident in 1854 when a British fleet of (predominantly) paddle steamers attacked the port of Olou in Finland.
This was during the Crimean War and Finland was under Russian rule, the British were attempting to cause a diversion but the paddles of their ships snapped in heavy ice and the only damage done seems to have been to supplies of tar bound for the Royal Navy.
Vanessa has presented science and current affairs programmes for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for BBC Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.
Contact Making History
Send your comments and questions for future programmes to: Making History BBC Radio 4 PO Box 3096 Brighton BN1 1PL
Vanessa has presented science and current affairs programmes for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for BBC Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald. 