Professor Tim Darvill gave his expertise to an American television show looking to uncover the lost secret of Stonehenge.
Presented by Hollywood actress Megan Fox, the show – called Legends of the Lost - travels the world looking to uncover secrets about old legends.
The second episode in the series; Stonehenge: The Healing Stones – looks specifically at Stonehenge and the archaeology and knowledge associated with the iconic stone ring.
Professor Darvill – an expert in Stonehenge, based at Bournemouth University – featured on the show to share his hypothesis on what the Stones’ original purpose may have been.
Professor Darvill said, “The filming came about because they invited me to contribute to the programme as they knew about my work on the Healing Hypothesis for Stonehenge. I believe the site was a place for the living and that the Bluestones brought from the Preseli Hills in Wales have healing properties. That is what is explored in the programme.”
“The whole focus of the show is our research on the Healing Hypothesis – a really good piece of research impact when you put out some conclusions and they are picked up by researchers working for a TV company. It really underlines the international interest and appeal in this kind of research.”
The show is being broadcast on The Travel Channel in the US, with Transformers, New Girl and Jennifer’s Body actress Megan Fox fronting the series.
The show also featured another expert with a link to BU, with BSc Archaeology graduate Si Cleggett also on the show to share his theories.
Professor Darvill concluded, “It was really enjoyable to spend a day out in the Preseli Hills of southwest Wales with Megan. She became really engrossed in the archaeology of the areas we visited, and was starting to spot features for herself as we walked back to our vehicles.”
A version of the show can currently be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDS3e5Xe0o
