BBC uncovers Scots jungle history.
A BBC Scotland expedition has uncovered a major haul of artefacts from a failed attempt to create a wealthy Scottish empire in the Panama jungle. The 17th century scheme - known as the Darien Venture - cost 2,000 lives, lost about half of the country's wealth and is said to have changed the course of Scotland's political history.
Many historians believe it also led many Scots to support the Act of Union and the abolition of the first Scottish Parliament in 1707.A BBC Scotland film crew spent two weeks filming in the Panama jungle along with an international team of 12 archaeologists who helped retrace the steps of early Scottish pioneers.
During the expedition, the group found parts of the fortifications known as Fort St Andrews and the remains of huts in what was to be New Edinburgh, a communal oven and the wreck of a supply ship.
Darien had to be one of the boldest bids of its time, to set up a new colony - the basis for a new country - where the jungle was and still is the king. [continue]
Related links:
The Darien Venture - From BBC History
The Darien Adventure - from royalbank.co.uk
The Darien Scheme - The Fall of Scotland - from Historic UK
Darién scheme - from Wikipedia