St Michael’s Mount featured on Digging for Britain

The popular BBC Two show visited the island last summer.

St Michael’s Mount appeared on Digging for Britain on BBC Two in February 2026, shining a light on the Mount’s extraordinary past and its place in Britain’s ancient story.

The programme followed archaeologists from Durham University as they uncovered compelling new evidence linking the Mount to the semi-mythical island of Ictis, long associated with the Bronze Age tin trade that once connected Cornwall to the wider ancient world.

Also featured were Head Gardener Darren Little and National Trust archaeologist Jim Parry, who explored the story of the remarkable Bronze Age hoard discovered on the island. This significant find prompted further archaeological investigation, revealing artefacts and clues that point to the Mount’s role as a vital trading hub thousands of years ago.

Through discoveries of ancient objects, evidence of long-distance trade routes and the unique nature of a tidal island once closely connected to mainland Europe, the episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the Mount’s origins, which stretch back far further than the medieval castle and priory.

The feature forms part of ongoing research that continues to deepen our understanding of St Michael’s Mount as a place shaped by people, trade and belief over millennia, and reinforces its importance within Cornwall’s rich archaeological landscape.

If you missed it, watch it now on BBCiplayer Series 13, episode 6.