Oh dear, I just stumbled on this video, what luck! I dug in Caerwent in 1987 and 1988! We dug some rooms in the basilica. We had to pass the yard of the now sadly derelict farm house to go to the toilet block ( and the pub) and I was always scared as the farmers had a very agressive goose called George, everyone except for one of the diggers were terrified of him. I remember one day someone at the dig called " George is coming" and everyone just threw their tools and fled!! I once had to take my jacket and play the toreador to be able to fend him of, and there were rumours he had attacked the gas man so madly the poor man had marks of geese feet on his chest! Gosh how many times I scrubbed that roman floor in the basilica just to make it look nice in photos. We found very nice traces of painted plaster walls and it was there I found my first roman coin too. Oh dear- what memories of my wayward archaeological youth come flooding back!
26:16 - They had to build two walls. Building #1: If they made building #2 share its wall, there would be nowhere for rain to drain from the roof. It's a wet region, Britain. It's drainage. So, they make the second wall. Between walls: The rain doesn't need much of a crack to drip down to the streets and run off, but it needs to be as wide as a person to maintain it. That's why it's paved in between walls there. The water. If it were just earth, the flow would undermine the structures.
Do you understand now why the Romans occupied Britain so easily for 500 years? Even today, only you have come to understand the reason for the distance between the buildings. hahahahah
There are enormous caves below this area , maybe the largest in the Uk . These caves have to be pumped to reduce the water levels else the Severn river (estuary ) nearby would swamp the low lying fields and the long Severn railway tunnel linking Wales to London. North of Caerwent are the Brecon Beacons , famously wet as some well known
@@The_ZeroLine Why do things disappear under the dirt? Are they sinking or is more dirt being made? I don't understand it. I am having a hard time forming this question for Google to get an answer.
@@Sweetyhide Neither really. Erosion and wind shift dirt and sand which build up and eventually bury these places. Just think of how snowdrifts work and how quickly they bury cars. Now, desert sands shift similarly and can bury large objects extremely quickly. However, regarding subsidence aka sinking, heavy structures built on unstable soil can sink below the ground. I am not a geologist though. It’s possible I have omitted additional critical factors. Oh, additionally, abandoned structures get invade by vines, trees, etc., which begin breaking apart the structures, drop green waste, attract dirt, etc., which basically consumes and buries structures. After a while, places will literally become “grown over.”
@@Sweetyhide the great dirt cover, mud fossil the earth get hit by a mother ship catching everything on fire, then the flood happen, hence as to why each place has underground bunkers, because someone wanted to wipe the titans and giants out, they left the planet also and took their technology too and they even blast mars like nothing
I’m from Chepstow (a few miles down the road - plenty of history with our castle being built in 1067 by William Fitzgerald on commission by King William 1st) and so Roman history is very poignant in our history too. My personal mechanic is still based in Caerwent and has known my family for 3 generations now. The history of the village is still very poignant and whenever I’m driving through (or past the village) it rings true, how much the Romans actually left us and are still around us too. Us Welsh are really blessed for the amount of history we were left. After all we wouldn’t have our national emblem - the leek - without our Roman history, amongst other things!
I am from the United States and I as a hobby love to dig for old things I mostly find old bottles, but find nothing compared to the finds there in Europe! You are so lucky to live among ancient ruins!
His staff definitely had a number of "challenging assignments", and I've noticed their work was exactly that, "Work". The efforts seemingly highly underrated. But the findings of the technology were often "unclear". As time has progressed, technology has continued to make Quantum Leaps, yet I'm not certain how much easier the "on the ground applications" have proven to be. Geophysics, one of the "fact finders" that "Mainstream Archaeologists" seem to feel threatened by. *"Geophysics and Genetics/DNA, having the benefits of strength in measurable Standards of Technology and Laboratory resources, can easily set aside the "Mainstream Academics", particularly the Archaeologist's, "19th Century Theory based Paradigm and Timeline", which by the way, they seem to have a Dogmatic attachment to. I find it odd how they seem to be the appointed Professional and Educational Decision Makers of what is deemed accurate, while being in direction opposition to the "Standards of Science and Research": they hold a Theory as their focal fact foundation, from which they wrote their Paradigm and Timeline, then force all artifacts, fossils, and stories to fit within. The "Standards of Science and Research" require the mind be fully open and free of any Beliefs, Theories, Opinions, that would interfere with the already proven Methodologies that allow for the greater facts to emerge. Example: in the late 1990's Dr Robert Schoch, Geophysicist, a Yale Grad, and Professor, Boston University, using "standard weathering patterns on the sandstone," dated the Sphinx by the Great Pyramid, Egypt, to appx 11,500 BCE. His work Peer Reviewed and Journal Published, yet the Mainstream Egyptologists and Archaeologists continue to ignore the findings, (particularly Zawai Hawass, then the Egyptian Director of Antiquities, often seen in a number of Documentaries on the Pyramid and Pharohs subjects). Apparent that there a most unprofessional and what I would seem "Ego-minded", aka Lower or Adolescent Minded attitude in play. It is just a matter of time, with the advances in Technology and DNA Testing/Studies/Mapping, until the greater facts fully emerge to reveal "the Theory based Story" fully inaccurate and this will allow for a flood flow of facts to come quickly to surface and those whom I refer to as "Authentic Academics" (those whom do follow the "Standards of Science and Research" will be free to take the reigns and to enjoy their works absent of threat to career or Academic Status. I look forward to this. It has been a motivated by Ego misuse of Media, for Profit and some would add "Keeping the Public definitively Ignorant", that has kept such behavior sustained. A "House of Cards" would describe it well. "Time Time" is noticeably not clouded by such, as their intentions are observable on their work at hand rather than a particular individual's ego.
@Janitor Queen Well said, but you had one thing wrong - with her odd use of capitals, Beth certainly doesn't "write pretty well". She'd probably be happiest if she could also change fonts and colours, albeit in a manner that only makes sense to her.
After learning about and binge watching this series, I've got a great respect for Geophysics! Especially carrying the scanning devices. Gotta keep it even and straight, but seems it can bit a bit heavy. It also amazes me how much we can learn just from the scans.
What I find most fascinating about this kind of thing is how all these things sat there long enough to be buried. Imagine a building built today, being abandoned, and then sitting until the year 4000 without anyone ever coming along to clean it out or knock it down. Those pots and walls and other artifacts all sat in the same spot for 2000 years, long enough to be completely buried by a layer of dirt and grass. No one disturbed it for 2000 years. No one came along and plowed the field to plant crops. How does that happen? Was the entire region abandoned for hundreds of years? It boggles the mind.
After the Roman legions left Britain, there was a poulation decline. There had been several major disasters all over Europe, climate change, bad harvests, wars and a major epidemic that reduced the population drasticly. So many places were abandoned. The knowledge of Roman architecture and techniques was lost, because too many people died. Some ruins were used as "quarries" to get free stones for building. All over Europe we have sites like that. Once the ruins are buried deep enough, you can plough the fields, never noticing what lies beneath it. Especially since early medieval ploughs were not as big and would not plough as deep as modern day ploughs. That´s why in the last centuries a lot of ancient stuff was dug up accidently by farmers.
I have often wondered that myself, I think also what happened was when the Romans left, used the brick from the houses/buildings to built their own, and may have actually buried to small walls that were left to use as pasture for cattle/ farms etc, not purposely to remove evidence of the Romans, but more just as they dont "need" it anymore, similar to at times you may knock down a wall or room on your house and rebuilt it differently, to a way you think is better, but they did it on a "town" scale rather than a individual house. ??
Awesome, been ages since I found an episode I haven't seen before. They are often pretty re-watchable, but there is nothing like the first time watching one.
@@thomasedward-anthony658 My Great Grandpa was from Wales....a Roberts !! I would love to be able to go to Wales 1 day...but Time Team always takes me there!!!
Roman Mother: "Son, whatcha do with your gladiator bracelet we just bought you?" Roman Boy: "I dunno, I think it came off during play outside." Roman Mother: "Ahh maybe itll turn up in a day or two."
Great episode and a hilarious ending! 🤣 👍 You never go wrong with Matt Williams and especially Phil Harding! I do hope the new Time Team Official crew manages to bring Phil back! He really is the missing spice of it all!
The Romans had a wonderful history of picking up another civilization's knowledge (usually after they sacked them) and applying it to their own society. Documentation was crucial if dull sometimes. In this case, from an architectural standpoint, what they learned was priceless.
Dad was in England during WW2 & often said you couldn't dig anywhere w/o hitting history. Kinda makes you wonder if you're not digging up a place where an ancestor worked & lived, good possibility.
One of the best Iron Age finds was when the RAF were building another base on Anglesey at Llyn Cerrig Bach. One of the finds was a slave chain which was still strong enough to be used to haul other debris away until it was realised how old it was.
*Phil and Matt "in Togas", too funny. Matt is always such a Good Sport.* Time Team took advantage of his Youth and Good Looks. Tony never gives the guy a break, but Matt, (obviously comfortable in his own skin), always takes on "the era tasks", with a Positive Attitude and a Smile. Matt definitely gets more "era tasking" than anyone else on staff, save Rakshar. Truly an endearing cast of Archaeology Professionals and Characters. *Best Regards to Matt, wherever his career has taken him, post "Time Team Productions".*
Matt is actually an archaeologist now in the UK I think with the Archaeological Trust. I saw him briefly on another program in 2022 but can’t remember details. I agree Matt was a great sport on TT always inhabiting period costumes to give us all a taste of the past. What a terrific person and obviously comfortable in his own skin. Perfect description.
Phil , time teams answer to Angus Young of ACDC has a more muscles on his right hand than Tarzan. Like Rod lavers tennis arm Phil has archeologists hand having dug out enough earth to reach Australia during his long career. Great programme , great people . Well done and thank you for all your work and entertainment.
Bless Time Team getting me actually interested in Roman related docs. (8 First time I've seen a documentary mention my first names roman-origin surname-namesake (that's a mouthful, but the lilac diesel demands it). V neat. That said, I'm not sure any Roman Historian can match the tender enthusiasm of Mary beard. She's fantastic.
“phil, where is the villa?!” “is here, i’m standing on it” “what do you mean you’re standing on it there is nothing here mate?” “yes there is” that just made me chuckle. such a fun interaction
Been watching all your shows for months now , I was born in Cardiff near Ely ,Wales do my Nan and Dad un Caerlon so very interesting , luv ya sll thanks for doing what you do ❤️ so much enjoyment
British viewers: I am an American with a decent ear for languages and accents. I’m very fond of the myriad of British accents. Is Phil’s accent West Country? Also, is Stewart Ainsworth’s accent Yorkshire?
Phil is certainly West Country, not sure exactly which county though, and you're also correct on Stewart's accent. That is pretty impressive, Americans usually don't have a good ear for British accents
@@cerdic6305 Thank you! I seem to have a talent for accents and languages. I have always been a mimic, from the time I was little. My Nana taught me to say “thank you” in a few different languages when I was pre-school age. Also I have watched and enjoyed British TV and films since I was a kid. PBS was big in my house growing up. I was a fan of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers by my early teen years. 😁 I have English and Scottish heritage on both sides of my family. As well as Cornish on my Dad’s side. One of those DNA test things also turned up the delightful surprises of 2% North Wales and 2% Northern Ireland. My Scottish heritage was identified as southwest Scotland. I knew about the English, Scottish and Cornish. I also knew well about my being 1/4 Slavic, from Eastern Ukraine. I am second generation American on that side of my Mom’s family.
I always love seeing people dig things up. I had a water and sewer line put in my house and it was a blasting operation. We have 3 to four inches of soil in places over bedrock.
i hope this - old - episodes will go on still for a long time to come. ( i know it is no more. and i saw a trailer of the - new - one. that is why i am writing...)
Just a thought. Tony one large building covering a string of retail shops takes a lot more building than small premises with much simpler roofs especially
I used to live watching Time Team on Sunday evening on Channel 4. Scrapheap Challenge and Time Team made it a good way to end the weekend. Tony Robinson 😎
@@trevortaylor5501 Have you actually tried doing something like this? I've used a weedeater a lot and they throw stuff out everywhere due to the speed they go and you do need speed to dislodge hardened ground. Thinking about it you have a couple of issues. You need bristles hard enough to flick the dirt out so a soft brush will more likely polish the dirt especially if its damp and you might fire out a small artifact and lose or break it.
I'm ignorant on this and will listen if someone can explain. Where did all the top soil come from that covers the "town". I mean it looks to be 1 to 2 feet deep. I understand that time has passed but really this much "dirt" has fallen from the sky as to bury it that deep. Thanks in advance.
I help to maintain a public park that was once the site of a mansion. There's a paved road in the park that wasn't maintained for three decades. Leaves from surrounding trees fell on it, and soil washed down from slope into which it was built. The road became covered with several inches of loam and dense mats of plant roots. Plants grew on what was once a road. It's amazing how quickly plants will race to reclaim any open space. If there's a crack in a pavement, soil will settle in the crack and soon a weed will sprout there.
A lot of these people are lecturers and professors which is their "day job" as it were. They wouldn't be able to take weeks or months off just to do these digs. Also making it 3 days adds excitement and a "will they? won't they?" to the programme. Often after these 3 days, Time Team hand over the trenches to other archaeologists who continue to dig and record.
The passage read by Max and Phil at the end is from Pliny the Elder's Natural History, Book XIV, opening of Chapter 28, "On the Avoidance of Drunkenness." Their vocal modulation and gestures (actio) are better than their pronunciation, but Phil, for all his West Country brogue, does better than Max. And Phil's stirring exordium: "et Brutus, et Julius, et Victor Ambrus" was not written by Pliny, but improvised for the great occasion.
It's MATT Williams and Phil Harding. I agree, their elocutio and memoria left something to be desired, but nice actio. We, of course, need to give a hat tip to Pliny the Elder for the inventio and dispositio.
Anyone familiar with tony's dove t-shirt? I've found several dove of peace shirts but none like his. Is it a general statement or does it represent a certain foundation/group?
If you want to get technical about it the 'mid evil' stuff would be more likely to advance our understanding of history. That's the point of all of this right? The Romans kept records and the Roman story is fairly well understood, but there's a reason its called the 'dark ages'. It wasn't necessarily the dark ages to them ,we call it that because we're in the dark about much of that period.
If you travel in Europe, and Istanbul, and Egypt, and North Africa, and more of the Middle East, you will see Roman temples, marketplaces, coliseums, roads, and aqueducts. The houses often have paintings on the walls and mosaic floors. You dont need historical records to see how prolific and widespread was Roman Civilization. The Dark Ages or Middle Ages left little behind like that. Some historians point that there were a few developments betw the Romans and the Renaissance, particularly the late Med. churches, but really, it is pretty obvious why they're called the Dark Ages. There's a good argument that the Catholic and other Christian Churches suppressed scientists. Xtains based in Constantinople burned and destroyed the great centres of learning in Alexandria, and the library (for the second time). Civilization did lumber on in Constantinople where the Roman Empire persisted.
I will add that Cairo and Baghdad were centres of learning during what were the Middle Ages (Medieval) in Europe, and note some of the fine buildings erected by the Muslim Moors from Morroco in Spain. (Moors, such as Othello, were from Morocco). One of the sons of Genghis Khan utterly destroyed Baghdad and religious authorities came to suppress learning in Cairo, unfortunately.
Romans had foldable knives??????? Wow, okay, I am thinking of that Cesar assassination in the Senate thing very differently now. "Brutus, are you stabbing?" "No, dude, I can't get this thing open, give me a moment..."
Did these two sites get dug again, eventually? If I understand correctly, all of these Time Team episodes are at least 10 years old oftentimes more. So its been a long time since this was filmed. I do wish they would include season and episode numbers as well as the original air date.
These are just fantastic shows. Would it be possible for the people digging to use a shop vac? At the end of the hose there would be a brush attachment. It wouldn't be used to suck up the artifacts, but pull up the finer dirt.
What may be the case with the two walls so close... is one wall is the outside perimeter of a structure and the other wall very close by is the next one over, that structure's perimeter wall happens to be so very close and them being so close it helps to be a wind block and all they need is a common walkway between them? They do not need to be many steps apart really
I find it amazing that not a single building was erected in that field since the Roman times. So, it never occurred to anyone to build anything in the spot. Why? Why? Why?
Maybe you have Siluran ancestry. Caerwent is what Gwent is named after, I don't think they mentioned that. There's another Went further east which the Saxons stuck ceastre onto and became Winchester. That was originally Venta Bulgarum. Thanks for giving the proper pronunciation.
"Kerwent" would be a very English way of pronouncing it. It like pronouncing "Caernarfon" as "ker narvun" Its an anglocised way of pronouncing a Welsh place name.
@@ThepPixel It’s interesting that Wikipedia says it wasn’t until the 1972 Local government Act that it was clarified that Monmouthshire was part of Wales. Maybe that’s why it’s said in an English way.
@@graemer3657 its Welsh status was only questioned between the 16th and 20th centuries, and only by some. And even then it was only TECHNICALLY a part of England, its pretty clear to see its in Wales, and historically always has been until the 16th century when disagreements began on paper.
soak the stuff in coke for a short time and then into water dip and then dip and then if needed back into coke and then back into water dip dip be careful and then scrub soft if needed. NOW depending on the items if you use coke, water you have to let it sit for about 3 hours before you can again dip it into water and scrub
Oh dear, I just stumbled on this video, what luck! I dug in Caerwent in 1987 and 1988! We dug some rooms in the basilica. We had to pass the yard of the now sadly derelict farm house to go to the toilet block ( and the pub) and I was always scared as the farmers had a very agressive goose called George, everyone except for one of the diggers were terrified of him. I remember one day someone at the dig called " George is coming" and everyone just threw their tools and fled!! I once had to take my jacket and play the toreador to be able to fend him of, and there were rumours he had attacked the gas man so madly the poor man had marks of geese feet on his chest! Gosh how many times I scrubbed that roman floor in the basilica just to make it look nice in photos. We found very nice traces of painted plaster walls and it was there I found my first roman coin too. Oh dear- what memories of my wayward archaeological youth come flooding back!
What a wonderful story thanks for sharing!
Oh, it’s so nice to hear such a personal experience! I envy you, going there :)
@@alicial1239 I was there , with my then fiancé ( now husband since thirty years) at two excavation seasons, in 1987 and 1988. We had a great time!
Wow no wonder the British lost the empire, their peasants are afraid of geese.
@@andrem4877 well we
It's such a terrible loss for the Argeologic community that this beautifull man "Mick Aston" died much to early.
I love how Time Team shows us the commonalities of humanity through the millennia.
White!
26:16 - They had to build two walls. Building #1: If they made building #2 share its wall, there would be nowhere for rain to drain from the roof. It's a wet region, Britain. It's drainage. So, they make the second wall. Between walls: The rain doesn't need much of a crack to drip down to the streets and run off, but it needs to be as wide as a person to maintain it. That's why it's paved in between walls there. The water. If it were just earth, the flow would undermine the structures.
Sounds logical.
Bigfoot and dogman exist in southeastern Wisconsin, lock your doors at night!
Do you understand now why the Romans occupied Britain so easily for 500 years? Even today, only you have come to understand the reason for the distance between the buildings. hahahahah
@@macrone3443 400
There are enormous caves below this area , maybe the largest in the Uk . These caves have to be pumped to reduce the water levels else the Severn river (estuary ) nearby would swamp the low lying fields and the long Severn railway tunnel linking Wales to London. North of Caerwent are the Brecon Beacons , famously wet as some well known
As a former Indian Reservation resident who loves researching Native burial mounds in the Minneapolis St Paul area I find this fascinating.
Make any good finds? What amazes me is how large of structures can just disappear under dirt over the years.
@@The_ZeroLine Why do things disappear under the dirt? Are they sinking or is more dirt being made? I don't understand it. I am having a hard time forming this question for Google to get an answer.
@@Sweetyhide Neither really. Erosion and wind shift dirt and sand which build up and eventually bury these places. Just think of how snowdrifts work and how quickly they bury cars. Now, desert sands shift similarly and can bury large objects extremely quickly. However, regarding subsidence aka sinking, heavy structures built on unstable soil can sink below the ground.
I am not a geologist though. It’s possible I have omitted additional critical factors. Oh, additionally, abandoned structures get invade by vines, trees, etc., which begin breaking apart the structures, drop green waste, attract dirt, etc., which basically consumes and buries structures. After a while, places will literally become “grown over.”
@@Sweetyhide the great dirt cover, mud fossil the earth get hit by a mother ship catching everything on fire, then the flood happen, hence as to why each place has underground bunkers, because someone wanted to wipe the titans and giants out, they left the planet also and took their technology too and they even blast mars like nothing
@@maymay5600 Oh you scientists and your boring fact-based explanations /s
This is pure gold as far as I’m concerned! Just loving everything about it, completely enthralled for the duration. What a team, what a concept!
I’m from Chepstow (a few miles down the road - plenty of history with our castle being built in 1067 by William Fitzgerald on commission by King William 1st) and so Roman history is very poignant in our history too. My personal mechanic is still based in Caerwent and has known my family for 3 generations now. The history of the village is still very poignant and whenever I’m driving through (or past the village) it rings true, how much the Romans actually left us and are still around us too. Us Welsh are really blessed for the amount of history we were left. After all we wouldn’t have our national emblem - the leek - without our Roman history, amongst other things!
I am from the United States and I as a hobby love to dig for old things I mostly find old bottles, but find nothing compared to the finds there in Europe! You are so lucky to live among ancient ruins!
Vvv
Dhggj
As a US citizen, with ancient roots in the UK, this is a fabulous episode.
As a fellow geophysicist, I really appreciate John. Always very conscientious, slightly nervous when his results are ambiguous or uninterpretable.
His staff definitely had a number of "challenging assignments", and I've noticed their work was exactly that, "Work". The efforts seemingly highly underrated. But the findings of the technology were often "unclear".
As time has progressed, technology has continued to make Quantum Leaps, yet I'm not certain how much easier the "on the ground applications" have proven to be.
Geophysics, one of the "fact finders" that "Mainstream Archaeologists" seem to feel threatened by. *"Geophysics and Genetics/DNA, having the benefits of strength in measurable Standards of Technology and Laboratory resources, can easily set aside the "Mainstream Academics", particularly the Archaeologist's, "19th Century Theory based Paradigm and Timeline", which by the way, they seem to have a Dogmatic attachment to.
I find it odd how they seem to be the appointed Professional and Educational Decision Makers of what is deemed accurate, while being in direction opposition to the "Standards of Science and Research": they hold a Theory as their focal fact foundation, from which they wrote their Paradigm and Timeline, then force all artifacts, fossils, and stories to fit within.
The "Standards of Science and Research" require the mind be fully open and free of any Beliefs, Theories, Opinions, that would interfere with the already proven Methodologies that allow for the greater facts to emerge.
Example: in the late 1990's Dr Robert Schoch, Geophysicist, a Yale Grad, and Professor, Boston University, using "standard weathering patterns on the sandstone," dated the Sphinx by the Great Pyramid, Egypt, to appx 11,500 BCE. His work Peer Reviewed and Journal Published, yet the Mainstream Egyptologists and Archaeologists continue to ignore the findings, (particularly Zawai Hawass, then the Egyptian Director of Antiquities, often seen in a number of Documentaries on the Pyramid and Pharohs subjects). Apparent that there a most unprofessional and what I would seem "Ego-minded", aka Lower or Adolescent Minded attitude in play.
It is just a matter of time, with the advances in Technology and DNA Testing/Studies/Mapping, until the greater facts fully emerge to reveal "the Theory based Story" fully inaccurate and this will allow for a flood flow of facts to come quickly to surface and those whom I refer to as "Authentic Academics" (those whom do follow the "Standards of Science and Research" will be free to take the reigns and to enjoy their works absent of threat to career or Academic Status.
I look forward to this. It has been a motivated by Ego misuse of Media, for Profit and some would add "Keeping the Public definitively Ignorant", that has kept such behavior sustained.
A "House of Cards" would describe it well.
"Time Time" is noticeably not clouded by such, as their intentions are observable on their work at hand rather than a particular individual's ego.
What I like about geophysical results is anybody can read them
@Janitor Queen Well said, but you had one thing wrong - with her odd use of capitals, Beth certainly doesn't "write pretty well". She'd probably be happiest if she could also change fonts and colours, albeit in a manner that only makes sense to her.
After learning about and binge watching this series, I've got a great respect for Geophysics! Especially carrying the scanning devices. Gotta keep it even and straight, but seems it can bit a bit heavy. It also amazes me how much we can learn just from the scans.
Kinda wish his attire were less.... turquoise. It's distracting.
What I find most fascinating about this kind of thing is how all these things sat there long enough to be buried. Imagine a building built today, being abandoned, and then sitting until the year 4000 without anyone ever coming along to clean it out or knock it down. Those pots and walls and other artifacts all sat in the same spot for 2000 years, long enough to be completely buried by a layer of dirt and grass. No one disturbed it for 2000 years. No one came along and plowed the field to plant crops. How does that happen? Was the entire region abandoned for hundreds of years? It boggles the mind.
After the Roman legions left Britain, there was a poulation decline. There had been several major disasters all over Europe, climate change, bad harvests, wars and a major epidemic that reduced the population drasticly. So many places were abandoned. The knowledge of Roman architecture and techniques was lost, because too many people died. Some ruins were used as "quarries" to get free stones for building. All over Europe we have sites like that. Once the ruins are buried deep enough, you can plough the fields, never noticing what lies beneath it. Especially since early medieval ploughs were not as big and would not plough as deep as modern day ploughs. That´s why in the last centuries a lot of ancient stuff was dug up accidently by farmers.
@@evelinharmannfan7191 climate change!? No , never!
I have often wondered that myself, I think also what happened was when the Romans left, used the brick from the houses/buildings to built their own, and may have actually buried to small walls that were left to use as pasture for cattle/ farms etc, not purposely to remove evidence of the Romans, but more just as they dont "need" it anymore, similar to at times you may knock down a wall or room on your house and rebuilt it differently, to a way you think is better, but they did it on a "town" scale rather than a individual house. ??
Something obviously happenend -> whatever it is / vulcano / mudflood / deluge / something to pack that much material on it.
HIS-STORY is a lie. That's why. The Romans weren't 2000 years ago they were 1000 years ago. We've been lied too.
Awesome, been ages since I found an episode I haven't seen before. They are often pretty re-watchable, but there is nothing like the first time watching one.
same here...
Was thinking there same myself
And! What a hilarious ending.
Wow wow my feelings exactly.
Have to do the Roman Britain tourAsap.
I’ve been to Carelion(sp) in Wales and want to see more
@@thomasedward-anthony658 My Great Grandpa was from Wales....a Roberts !! I would love to be able to go to Wales 1 day...but Time Team always takes me there!!!
Roman Mother: "Son, whatcha do with your gladiator bracelet we just bought you?"
Roman Boy: "I dunno, I think it came off during play outside."
Roman Mother: "Ahh maybe itll turn up in a day or two."
In the goofy Spongebob narrators voice: "2000 years later..."
I love how Baldrick gained a passion for archaeology
All that digging for turnips paid off.
OMG Phill you kill me ! I was on the floor with that las one 🤣🤣🤣 I love you guys! Another fun dig and great finds.😍😍😍
Great episode and a hilarious ending! 🤣 👍 You never go wrong with Matt Williams and especially Phil Harding! I do hope the new Time Team Official crew manages to bring Phil back! He really is the missing spice of it all!
To me, possibly the craziest part is you could literally see evidence of where the walls were in the grass nearly two millenia later!
The Romans had a wonderful history of picking up another civilization's knowledge (usually after they sacked them) and applying it to their own society. Documentation was crucial if dull sometimes. In this case, from an architectural standpoint, what they learned was priceless.
Dad was in England during WW2 & often said you couldn't dig anywhere w/o hitting history. Kinda makes you wonder if you're not digging up a place where an ancestor worked & lived, good possibility.
One of the best Iron Age finds was when the RAF were building another base on Anglesey at Llyn Cerrig Bach. One of the finds was a slave chain which was still strong enough to be used to haul other debris away until it was realised how old it was.
(And Wales)
I did not know this series even existed till yesterday. Good for me I have many episodes to watch. Brilliant show and format.
Thank you for this amazing show.
"Those 2 more disheveled, unlikely!! " 😂🤣 oh Tony I love it! Has anyone ever counted how many times Tony says geophis? 😁 so adorable
Thanks for bringing the Old world back to us this days ...
Brilliant 👍 keep it up Tony and the Team. Always worth watching, always quality learning here. Thanks to you all for these great videos. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
*Phil and Matt "in Togas", too funny. Matt is always such a Good Sport.* Time Team took advantage of his Youth and Good Looks.
Tony never gives the guy a break, but Matt, (obviously comfortable in his own skin), always takes on "the era tasks", with a Positive Attitude and a Smile. Matt definitely gets more "era tasking" than anyone else on staff, save Rakshar.
Truly an endearing cast of Archaeology Professionals and Characters.
*Best Regards to Matt, wherever his career has taken him, post "Time Team Productions".*
We get it ... you like Matt
Matt is actually an archaeologist now in the UK I think with the Archaeological Trust. I saw him briefly on another program in 2022 but can’t remember details. I agree Matt was a great sport on TT always inhabiting period costumes to give us all a taste of the past. What a terrific person and obviously comfortable in his own skin. Perfect description.
Matt has his own business.
Is he related to any if the team? Family?
Like when he had to follow the diet of a navi and was basically just drinking beer all day long haha
You guys have a great team that obviously love their work, I thoroughly enjoy the last couple episodes I've watched 👍☮️
Tony does love his Roman villas doesn't he; almost as much as Phil does his Flint. :-)
Great episode! If I look around enough I'll find one I haven't watched.
Rest in Power Mick.
Imagine finding that under your yard. Nothing like that where I'm from. So fascinating!
Phil , time teams answer to Angus Young of ACDC has a more muscles on his right hand than Tarzan. Like Rod lavers tennis arm Phil has archeologists hand having dug out enough earth to reach Australia during his long career. Great programme , great people . Well done and thank you for all your work and entertainment.
Tutti molto bravi , anche il pubblico!
Thank you Odyssey . Lots of good information with a touch of comedy . Great job as always!
Interesting, the Roman had developed ways of dealing with ear wax. That small tool they found was the first time I ever saw such. Remarkable.
Thanks so much for posting.
Bless Time Team getting me actually interested in Roman related docs. (8 First time I've seen a documentary mention my first names roman-origin surname-namesake (that's a mouthful, but the lilac diesel demands it). V neat. That said, I'm not sure any Roman Historian can match the tender enthusiasm of Mary beard. She's fantastic.
In my next life , I want to be on Time Team!!!!!
When they made them do a speech in Latin, and then revealed it was a passionate speech saying no one should ever drink beer, that was so funny!
I love this show, and i like it more when Mick's in it, such a gentleman.
“You’ve just convinced them that water’s the best drink and that alcohol is for pack animals”
*Everyone didn’t like that*
😂😂
Just awesome, I love these videos!
“phil, where is the villa?!” “is here, i’m standing on it” “what do you mean you’re standing on it there is nothing here mate?” “yes there is” that just made me chuckle. such a fun interaction
I wonder if Tony has ever been tempted to inform the rest of the team that he has a cunning plan...?
Though I have often said it for him at home to the video I'm watching.😀
Ahaha
I have many cunning plans!!!!
Wow.. Britain’s Pompeii. Hope to see more on its progress.
So many great things to see in Wales.
Been watching all your shows for months now , I was born in Cardiff near Ely ,Wales do my Nan and Dad un Caerlon so very interesting , luv ya sll thanks for doing what you do ❤️ so much enjoyment
British viewers:
I am an American with a decent ear for languages and accents. I’m very fond of the myriad of British accents. Is Phil’s accent West Country? Also, is Stewart Ainsworth’s accent Yorkshire?
Phil is certainly West Country, not sure exactly which county though, and you're also correct on Stewart's accent. That is pretty impressive, Americans usually don't have a good ear for British accents
@@cerdic6305 Thank you! I seem to have a talent for accents and languages. I have always been a mimic, from the time I was little. My Nana taught me to say “thank you” in a few different languages when I was pre-school age. Also I have watched and enjoyed British TV and films since I was a kid. PBS was big in my house growing up. I was a fan of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers by my early teen years. 😁
I have English and Scottish heritage on both sides of my family. As well as Cornish on my Dad’s side. One of those DNA test things also turned up the delightful surprises of 2% North Wales and 2% Northern Ireland. My Scottish heritage was identified as southwest Scotland.
I knew about the English, Scottish and Cornish. I also knew well about my being 1/4 Slavic, from Eastern Ukraine. I am second generation American on that side of my Mom’s family.
I always love seeing people dig things up. I had a water and sewer line put in my house and it was a blasting operation. We have 3 to four inches of soil in places over bedrock.
the oldest nana in our family loves to give the kids the noisiest toys she can find. that she makes sure they take home. 🤣
My type of person 😂
i hope this - old - episodes will go on still for a long time to come. ( i know it is no more. and i saw a trailer of the - new - one. that is why i am writing...)
That was so fascinating and really FUN to watch !!! Great job, guys !
dude in blue runs to locations like a boss...and i like his extra medium shirt
Just a thought. Tony one large building covering a string of retail shops takes a lot more building than small premises with much simpler roofs especially
These never fail to entertain!!
I always thought that The Romans were only in Greece this show has taught me that they were practically EVERYWHERE ‼️‼️
That little implement with the cut out v reminds me of a modern tick remover
I used to live watching Time Team on Sunday evening on Channel 4. Scrapheap Challenge and Time Team made it a good way to end the weekend. Tony Robinson 😎
Scrapheap Challenge? Man, that takes me back. Great shows.
If you put a soft long brush on a weed whacker as we call it in Canada you could expose ground quickly without disturbing to much ground.
That's a cool idea ! Never would have thought of that !
@@gayleeidson6724 Thanks!
Wouldn't that throw up a dust cloud?
@@damionkeeling3103 Not if you use a soft brush or something of the sort on the end, a engineer would be able to answer that.
@@trevortaylor5501 Have you actually tried doing something like this? I've used a weedeater a lot and they throw stuff out everywhere due to the speed they go and you do need speed to dislodge hardened ground. Thinking about it you have a couple of issues. You need bristles hard enough to flick the dirt out so a soft brush will more likely polish the dirt especially if its damp and you might fire out a small artifact and lose or break it.
16:42 Tony Robinson getting in his advertising for Toys r us 🤣 😂 😆
Thank goodness you found it, the Romans have been looking for that town everywhere! We knew we dropped it somewhere .....
So intriguing! I was wondering why drones aren’t used as there are some that have much newer technology than that being used in this video?
Time Team finished in 2014 when drones were still very new and this episode is from 2009 when they certainly weren't a thing.
I'm ignorant on this and will listen if someone can explain. Where did all the top soil come from that covers the "town". I mean it looks to be 1 to 2 feet deep. I understand that time has passed but really this much "dirt" has fallen from the sky as to bury it that deep. Thanks in advance.
I help to maintain a public park that was once the site of a mansion. There's a paved road in the park that wasn't maintained for three decades. Leaves from surrounding trees fell on it, and soil washed down from slope into which it was built. The road became covered with several inches of loam and dense mats of plant roots. Plants grew on what was once a road. It's amazing how quickly plants will race to reclaim any open space. If there's a crack in a pavement, soil will settle in the crack and soon a weed will sprout there.
Dirt doesn't fall from the sky ! Rain does, hence the dirt moving ...... 🤦🏻♂️
seems to me they could easily make multiple episodes on this location
the wonderful team makes this a pleasure to watch. great atmosphere.
A good episode 😊
Also can we please have a reimmergence of hair styles like the one tracy has in this ep... it looks so good on her ❤😊
I visited this place today. Well worth looking at
New Time Team is great but I do miss these guys terrible…..especially Mick, may he RIP.
Why are these digs limited to only 3 days? Is this a standard for the show or government limitation?
standard show format, im sure there is lots of pre show research going on.
A lot of these people are lecturers and professors which is their "day job" as it were. They wouldn't be able to take weeks or months off just to do these digs. Also making it 3 days adds excitement and a "will they? won't they?" to the programme. Often after these 3 days, Time Team hand over the trenches to other archaeologists who continue to dig and record.
Such a great ending!
The passage read by Max and Phil at the end is from Pliny the Elder's Natural History, Book XIV, opening of Chapter 28, "On the Avoidance of Drunkenness." Their vocal modulation and gestures (actio) are better than their pronunciation, but Phil, for all his West Country brogue, does better than Max. And Phil's stirring exordium: "et Brutus, et Julius, et Victor Ambrus" was not written by Pliny, but improvised for the great occasion.
It's MATT Williams and Phil Harding. I agree, their elocutio and memoria left something to be desired, but nice actio. We, of course, need to give a hat tip to Pliny the Elder for the inventio and dispositio.
Question: I have watched several videos where the archeologists have found rilled grain grinding stones. How did they created the rills in the stones?
Hammer and chisel.
Hammer and chisel?
15:52 Gratuitous "Roman Villa" reference.
Anyone familiar with tony's dove t-shirt? I've found several dove of peace shirts but none like his. Is it a general statement or does it represent a certain foundation/group?
If you want to get technical about it the 'mid evil' stuff would be more likely to advance our understanding of history. That's the point of all of this right? The Romans kept records and the Roman story is fairly well understood, but there's a reason its called the 'dark ages'. It wasn't necessarily the dark ages to them ,we call it that because we're in the dark about much of that period.
Medieval
@@maineeveryday3991 lol.. tell me you didn't get the joke without saying you didn't get the joke.
If you travel in Europe, and Istanbul, and Egypt, and North Africa, and more of the Middle East, you will see Roman temples, marketplaces, coliseums, roads, and aqueducts. The houses often have paintings on the walls and mosaic floors. You dont need historical records to see how prolific and widespread was Roman Civilization. The Dark Ages or Middle Ages left little behind like that. Some historians point that there were a few developments betw the Romans and the Renaissance, particularly the late Med. churches, but really, it is pretty obvious why they're called the Dark Ages. There's a good argument that the Catholic and other Christian Churches suppressed scientists. Xtains based in Constantinople burned and destroyed the great centres of learning in Alexandria, and the library (for the second time). Civilization did lumber on in Constantinople where the Roman Empire persisted.
I will add that Cairo and Baghdad were centres of learning during what were the Middle Ages (Medieval) in Europe, and note some of the fine buildings erected by the Muslim Moors from Morroco in Spain. (Moors, such as Othello, were from Morocco). One of the sons of Genghis Khan utterly destroyed Baghdad and religious authorities came to suppress learning in Cairo, unfortunately.
The Romans didnt move people to their new provinces. The Romans in Roman Britian were not italic, but simply britains who became romans.
Romans had foldable knives??????? Wow, okay, I am thinking of that Cesar assassination in the Senate thing very differently now.
"Brutus, are you stabbing?"
"No, dude, I can't get this thing open, give me a moment..."
Phil: I'm about to destroy this man's whole career (46:09)
I plan to watch more of these but as usual, I've only got 3 days to do it.
Love your videos!
What happens when the time is up? Does a team continue on all the other projects
That ending was hilarious! 😅😅😅😅😂😂😂😂
why did they never visit Colchester,(Camoludonium)the oldest recorded town? so much history there,Norman,Saxon,Roman.
How often do they do a new time team show? I'm an American and enjoy the show especially Tony Robinson
damn, if I dig a hole where I live I might find an old beer bottle cap or an old bottle or rusty can, but I am afraid that's about it.
I love the Time Team! Love the objects you find. Please the shows coming! USA!🇺🇸🗽Whoops! Keep!😂
Baldrick!!!!
This is so awesome!
Did these two sites get dug again, eventually? If I understand correctly, all of these Time Team episodes are at least 10 years old oftentimes more. So its been a long time since this was filmed. I do wish they would include season and episode numbers as well as the original air date.
These are just fantastic shows. Would it be possible for the people digging to use a shop vac? At the end of the hose there would be a brush attachment. It wouldn't be used to suck up the artifacts, but pull up the finer dirt.
Victor is a wonderful artist 👍👍👍👍
Im amazed that they found evidence of a Peloton store.
What may be the case with the two walls so close... is one wall is the outside perimeter of a structure and the other wall very close by is the next one over, that structure's perimeter wall happens to be so very close and them being so close it helps to be a wind block and all they need is a common walkway between them? They do not need to be many steps apart really
Nice to hear baldrick's voice.
@20:25 So Italians have been talking with their hands since at least the 2nd century AD. It was in the handbook so it's official.
I find it amazing that not a single building was erected in that field since the Roman times. So, it never occurred to anyone to build anything in the spot. Why? Why? Why?
Maybe not enough economic activity in that part of Wales to make it profitable. Better to leave it to the sheep?
It was a good place to grow food AMND buildings were built elsewhere
Oops typo meant and buildings were built elsewhere
Marco guy biblical Britain has much to say about this exact thing you ask
I grew up 3 miles from here.
Locals pronounce it kerwent, not kayarvwent. Brilliant video, and sorry to come across as critical.
Maybe you have Siluran ancestry. Caerwent is what Gwent is named after, I don't think they mentioned that. There's another Went further east which the Saxons stuck ceastre onto and became Winchester. That was originally Venta Bulgarum. Thanks for giving the proper pronunciation.
As a Welsh speaker id pronounce it "Caur-went".
"Kerwent" would be a very English way of pronouncing it.
It like pronouncing "Caernarfon" as "ker narvun"
Its an anglocised way of pronouncing a Welsh place name.
@@ThepPixel It’s interesting that Wikipedia says it wasn’t until the 1972 Local government Act that it was clarified that Monmouthshire was part of Wales. Maybe that’s why it’s said in an English way.
@@graemer3657 its Welsh status was only questioned between the 16th and 20th centuries, and only by some. And even then it was only TECHNICALLY a part of England, its pretty clear to see its in Wales, and historically always has been until the 16th century when disagreements began on paper.
Anyone know what year this was filmed?
Great doco!
They need some ultrasonic baths for those finds! Clean em up right quick
I live for Phil speaking Latin 😂😂😂
Much more impressive if he spoke welsh… more appropriate too.
soak the stuff in coke for a short time and then into water dip and then dip and then if needed back into coke and then back into water dip dip be careful and then scrub soft if needed. NOW depending on the items if you use coke, water you have to let it sit for about 3 hours before you can again dip it into water and scrub
Love these guys.
Can only imagine the thrill of being the first person to turn the first shovel full of soil in a pristine site.