EU's 'frontier funder' turns five

British-based scientists have received almost a billion euros in funding from the European Research Council (ERC) since it was set up five years ago.

The UK has been by far the most successful EU nation in winning grants from the agency that prioritises frontier, or "blue skies", study.

Dr Nicole Boivin is a Canadian archaeologist and ERC grantee who has based herself in Britain. She describes her current project.