TRACKS - Travel Documentaries

The Lost City of Roxburgh - Uncovering Scotland's Forgotten Medieval Capital

Step into the lost medieval city of Roxburgh, once Scotland's wealthiest hub - now just a field near Kelso. What happened to this vanished metropolis? In this gripping archaeological adventure, the Time Team investigates the mystery of Roxburgh - a city that rivaled Edinburgh, Stirling, and Berwick as one of medieval Scotland’s four great urban centers. Using cutting-edge geophysics, aerial photography, and careful excavation, the team races against the clock to uncover the layout, defenses, and daily life of a city erased from the map for centuries. From the imposing earthwork ramparts and Market Street’s merchant homes to the elusive St James’s Church, every trench brings new revelations about Roxburgh’s rise to prosperity and its sudden disappearance. Learn how Roxburgh’s strategic location made it a powerhouse of international trade in wool and hides, attracting merchants from across Europe. See rare finds like French pottery, medieval jugs, and monumental tombs emerge from the soil, and meet the ordinary and extraordinary people who once called this bustling borough home. Why did Roxburgh vanish when other towns thrived? Discover the twists of history, border conflicts, and lost fortunes that turned this thriving city into a forgotten pasture. Join us for three intense days of archaeology as we piece together the story of a city lost to time, and reveal the secrets beneath the Scottish Borders. #Archaeology #MedievalScotland #LostCities #Roxburgh #TimeTeam #ScottishHistory #UrbanArchaeology #HistoryMystery