After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

A body is found at Stonehenge. It's the skeleton of a man - an archer - who lived at the time when it was built. How did he die? What secrets does his skeleton reveal about his life and the purpose of Stonehenge?In today's episode, Anthony and Maddy investigate a 4,000 year-old murder mystery, as well as exploring the big questions that surround Stonehenge: how was it built? Who built it, and why?!A special thanks to Adrian Green, Director at Salisbury Museum.Edited by Tomos Delary. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.

A four thousand(ish) year old murder trial. A procession of the dead. Kings who believed they could escape the gods by dressing gardeners in royal clothes...then killing them. Welcome to the Dark Side of Ancient Mesopotamia! Guiding Maddy and Anthony through this most ancient and most fascinating civilisation is the incredible Professor Amanda Podany, author of 'Weavers, Scribes and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East'.Edited by Tomos Delarggy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.

'Strike, man, strike!' were the last words of Sir Walter Raleigh as his neck lay on the block. After thirteen years in the Tower of London, (multiple) expeditions to find a city of gold, and a plot to kill the king, Walter Raleigh finally met his end. Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story of how it all played out.Edited by Tomos Delargy. Research by Phoebe Joyce. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Beneath the streets of the French capitol lurks a city of the dead: the Paris Catacombs.Why they were piled up there is a dark and fascinating story, that includes everything from the bloody days of the French Revolution, to the making of 'corpse candles' and a mystery man found amongst its passageways.Joining Anthony and Maddy for today's episode is the fantastic Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator for Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh, to take us down to this underworld.Edited by Tomos Delargy, Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.

It was one of the most gruesome crimes of the Victorian era... and it ended up in David Attenborough's garden! Kate Webster, a servant, killed and dismembered her mistress, Julia Martha Thomas in 1879. It's a story that show us the everyday life of Victorian Londoners, and how that world can be turned upside down.Edited by Tomos Delargy, Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitProduced by Stuart Beckwith. Edited by Tom Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Dive into the dark and haunting life of Mary Queen of Scots, where betrayal and violence set the stage for her tragic demise. Explore chilling ghost sightings linked to her legacy and their significance in Scottish folklore. Discover the emotional weight of her history amid tales of her spectral appearances at Loch Leven Castle. Unravel the intriguing ghost story of her loyal companion, a small white dog, and how ghostly narratives intertwine with pub culture. This journey fuses history and the supernatural, inviting curiosity about the past.

Why are the Knights Templar surrounded by myths and legends? Is there any truth to the tales of the Holy Grail or that the Knights survived? Why does this medieval order, which disappeared in the 14th century, continue to enthral us today?To uncover the real history of the Knights Templar we are joined by Dan Jones - historian, author, podcaster and host of This Is History, whose series The Iron King is all about man who destroyed the Templars - King Philip the Fair.Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Explore the intense final days of Abraham Lincoln, culminating in his assassination by John Wilkes Booth. Discover the chaos and urgency that filled the theater on that fateful night, and how Lincoln’s complex legacy was at stake. Delve into the political turmoil that followed his death and the contrasting approaches of his successor. The podcast also reflects on the lasting impact of assassinations throughout history, illustrating their significant shifts in societal direction. This gripping narrative reveals the tragic intersection of myth and reality.

In a captivating discussion, Professor Robbie Richardson, an expert on Indigenous and European cultural interactions, examines the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. He sheds light on the famous clue 'Croatoan,' exploring the lives and perspectives of the Croatoan people. The conversation dives into the complexities of colonial legacies, the overlooked journeys of Indigenous individuals to London, and the need to recenter historical narratives around Indigenous experiences. Richardson's insights challenge long-held misconceptions and offer a fresh view on this historical enigma.

In this intriguing discussion, Campbell Price, an Egyptologist and curator at the Manchester Museum, sheds light on the underbelly of Ancient Egypt. He delves into the harsh realities faced by workers constructing the pyramids and challenges the notion of slavery in their labor force. Price reveals the brutal practices of ancient warfare, including the disturbing collection of trophies. The conversation pulls back the curtain on ancient beliefs, highlighting how magic and ritual intertwined with the daily lives of Egyptians, offering a captivating glimpse into their complex society.