It's the Engines on History Hit. I'm Tristan Hughes your host and in today's

podcast, well recently on History Hit TV very excitingly we really star new series

all about prehistoric Scotland. We released our first episode all about Stone Age

Auckland. And this podcast is almost a continuum from the end of that first episode. Today

we're looking at Stone Age Auckland, but we're looking at the end of the Stone Age

and Auckland. The end of the Neolithic and the arrival of the Bronze Age. What do we

know about this incredibly important time in Auckland and Scotland in Britain's prehistory?

Well joining me today I was delighted to get on the podcast to interview a few months back

Professor Martin Richards from the University of Huddersfield. He and his team have been

working on new evidence that is bringing to light new information about this seismic moment

in British prehistory focusing on a site called the Links of Northland. Now Martin to explain

all of this it was great to get on the podcast and without further ado to talk all about

the end of the Stone Age and Auckland the beginning of the Bronze Age. What happens now?

Here's Martin. Martin thank you so much for taking the time to come on the podcast today.

I'll give you a very welcome. Now, Auckland, I mean ancient Auckland, whether it's

neolithic or whatever, it's such a fascinating place isn't it? And our minds may instantly go

to neolithic Auckland, but Martin the story of what happens next, the next step, the next phase

of Auckland's ancient history, it seems it's just as fascinating if not more.

Yes, well it's suddenly unexpected what we've found. So yes I think so. I think it's been a

surprise to quite a lot of people for different reasons in some cases.

Well let's delve into the background first of all. Now, Auckland, this island off the Northern

coast of Britain, major cultural centre during the neolithic, but can you give us a bit of a brief

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