Sue Cook and the team answer listeners' historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all 'make' history.
Series 11
Programme 13
12听July 2005
Yew trees in churchyards
A listener in South Wales asks: Why do we find so many yew trees in our churchyards, why are they symbolic, and do they live for thousands of years as mythology would have us believe?
Making History went to Dunsfold in Surrey and Crowhurst in East Sussex to see two very old yew trees. The programme consulted dendrochronologist Andy Moir and Owen Johnson, the editor of the Collins Tree Guide.
Useful links
(Andy Moir's website)
Shopping in the Middle Ages
A listener from Kent asked about the divisions in some of our High Street trades, professions such as pork butchers and poulterers: when did they originate, and were they the product of medieval guilds?
Making History consulted the Leverhulme Professor of Comparative Metropolitan History at the institute of Historical Research in London, Derek Keene.
Useful links
Romans in Brazil?
Following on from a discussion about the possibility that the Romans travelled to China, a listener asks whether it is true that they also sailed to Brazil.
The evidence comes from amphorae found on the sea-bed in the so-called Bay of Jars near Rio de Janeiro. Amphorae are long, narrow clay containers, wider at the top than at the base, with two handles, and were used in ancient times especially for storing oil or wine.
Making History consulted Professor David Peacock, archaeologist at the University of Southampton.
Useful links
Further reading
R.F. Marx, Romans in Rio? (1984)
Local history hero
This week's nominated local history hero is Julian Rawes who over 27 years has compiled a comprehensive record of memorial inscriptions in Gloucestershire's churches.
Further reading
'The Historical Importance of Churchyard Memorials' by Julian Rawes, Gloucestershire and District Archaeological Research Group
Archaeological Review No. 23 1998 (Editors Wills J and Rawes J), Transactions of the Bristol and听Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 117 (2000)180-181 ISSN 0068-1032
Vanessa has presented听science and current affairs programmes for 大象传媒, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for 大象传媒 Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.听
Contact Making History
Send your comments and questions for future programmes to:
Making History
大象传媒 Radio 4
PO Box 3096 Brighton
BN1 1PL