BBC & PBS Team for NOVA Special on Vikings

NEW YORK: The two-hour NOVA special Vikings Unearthed, a co-production from PBS and the BBC, investigates the truth behind the legend of the Vikings and their journey to North America.

The special is slated to premiere online at pbs.org/nova on April 4, ahead of its U.S. broadcast debut on April 6. The production for PBS’s science strand NOVA makes use of satellite technology, excavation and investigation of archaeological evidence to examine a new archaeological site at Point Rosee, located in southern Newfoundland. The exploration is led by space archaeologist Dr. Sarah Parcak, archaeologist Douglas Bolender, historian Dan Snow and a team of leading experts. The new site is the first found in 55 years that has merited closer examination and excavation.

“BBC factual programming is constantly striving to produce inspiring and informative TV and this ambitious program featuring leading experts and cutting-edge technology will deliver new revelations and real historical insight into the journey the Vikings made across the Atlantic,” said Rachel Morgan, the commissioning editor for specialist factual at the BBC. “My only regret is that I couldn’t have been there in person alongside Dr. Parcak and Dan Snow on this extraordinary project.”

“As PBS and BBC continue to explore new worlds in science and nature programming together, Vikings Unearthed broadens the opportunity for further discussion and investigation into the lives of these pioneering warriors, building on NOVA’s tradition of bringing cutting-edge science from around the globe to our viewers,” added Beth Hoppe, the chief programming executive and general manager for general audience programming at PBS.