In Our Time: The Antikythera Mechanism

In 1900 a group of sponge divers found the wreck of a ship off the Greek island of Antikythera. Among the items salvaged was a corroded bronze object. Over time, researchers discovered that it was some kind of astronomical analogue computer, the only one to survive from this period. Examination of the Antikythera Mechanism using the latest scientific techniques indicates that it is a particularly intricate tool for showing the positions of planets, the sun and moon with a complexity and precision not surpassed for over a thousand years. Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 2,000-year-old device