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How heatwaves are revealing lost archaeology (ad-free) (Patreon)

Published:
2026-08-25 05:10:00
Imported:
2026-08
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Content

Time Team archaeologist Dr Helen Geake answers questions sent in from Time Team members. You'll find out how recent heatwaves are exposing lost archaeology in the ground below, how children can ask the most illuminating archaeological questions and whether double yellow lines would be interpreted as decorative by archaeologists of the future. We also pay tribute to Sir Tony Robinson on his 80th birthday.Helen's Find shines a spotlight on an object discovered through archaeology. Today's find can be seen via the following link:https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1991-0411-2858

If you'd like to ask a question in a future edition of the podcast then head to the 'chat' section here on Patreon.

Comments

Chris (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-08 22:00 Buuterfly on the buckle - reminds me of art nouveau style
2026-08-25 05:41 Butterfly on the buckle - reminds me of art nouveau style

Butterfly on the buckle - reminds me of art nouveau style

Lee Broderick

The discussion of double yellow lines made me think about the hypothetical excavation of a supermarket by future archaeologists, and the function of the aisles, in Mick Aston & Tony Robinson's 'Archaeology is Rubbish'. I still recommend that book as one of the best introductions to archaeology ever published - funny, engaging and accurate, it's understandable by everyone and useful for undergrad students.

Angela McIntosh

That belt buckle looks very Art Deco, late 1920s/1930s. Gorgeous!

steve

The timeline thing is interesting, and it is difficult to grasp the length of some of these periods. When I think of the image of the stone age I think back to when I was a child, and well before the discoveries in Turkiye and elsewhere. My whole idea about how they looked, and what they did, or were capable of, has shifted hugely. A bit close to home, the structures on the Ness of Brodgar have really brought that home. Truly remarkable people.

steve

The interpretation of monuments and so on, is fascinating. I remember hearing of a researcher from Madagascar visiting Stone Henge, stating that Stonehenge was all about the ancestors and commemorating them, whereas woodhenge was about the living. This reflects the cultural significance of his homeland. I have seen these funeral monuments on Madagascar, and they do look like standing stones

Kerry Hennigan

Another wonderful episode. I especially loved the favourite moments with Sir Tony at the very end.

Gloria B

Is there any way someone could color the drawing of the Sutton Hoo buckle referenced and post it for us? I’m having trouble putting the description with the drawing to see a butterfly motif.

Pam

Sutton hoo belt buckle butterfly is stunning. Also, the sheer expanse of time back to neolithic and beyond hurts my brain, but in a good way.

Tom

The buckle's overall shape looks like a stylized horse face, looking directly at the viewer. The pattern could mimic markings or muscling.

Lee Broderick

Ramilisonina, who was invited by Mike Parker Pearson following his ethnographic work in Madagascar.

Fiona D

Endlessly fascinating episode. The Q&A stimulates such great ideas and stories. I am stunned by the concept of parched grass in the UK. I spent a year at the U of Birmingham many (many) years ago and England was just so intensely green. That year I took a trip to Spain during reading week and told people it reminded me of home (southern California). Why? I said, it's the dead grass!

Alan McMillan

Drought around reservoirs could be good?

Alan McMillan

Trying to relate to how people were thinking, at a given era, is not easy. What did they really think?

Allegra Carlton

I hesitate to suggest this as you've probably done it, but I didn't notice the small images under the original image of the find, and was going What butterfly? where? and then noticed that there are four small icons under the image, so clicked on them and realised one of the reconstruction pictures makes it very clear that the buckle has flowers on it, and part of the middle decoration can be read as a butterfly.

Anne Marie Anderson

I agree that it’s the face of a horse and the “butterfly” markings may be incidental

Stephanie Greene

I love the comments about finding parch mark/crop marks we need to always keep a lookout… I was in Oxford a week ago (channeling my inner Stewart Ainsworth at an introductory course on landscape surveying 😉) when I took a walk across one of my favorite places in the whole world… Port Meadow and it came across these. Now these aren’t new finds. Port, Meadow is an SSSI was scheduled as a ancient monument in 1990 as I come to learn. If you look real hard on some of the map satellite images they’re barely visible if you you’re looking for them. But not as striking as they were when I was there a week ago. According to English heritage, these from iron and Bronze Age barrows settlement. How exciting it was to just wander across these and see them so clearly. So if anyone’s going to Oxford anytime soon, check this out in Port Meadow. PS it’s quite a long way up meadow. And remember, watch out for the horses and cows and where your wellies because that meadow has been pooped in by a variety of livestock since the time of William the Conqueror.

Michael Collins

Helen, thankyou for your memory of Tony Robinson.

Irene Daly

We should organize a team in various parts of the country, to spot unusual features or parch marks. I wonder if farmers are a good source or those lucky enough to have a drone could be invaluable.

Irene Daly

Dear Phil- he always made it fun and at the same time he explained in simple, easy to understand language.

Alan

Handling timescales: in engineering a logarithmic scale would be used so the further back in time, the more the scale would be compressed. That probably mirrors what people feel about the time scales.

Elisabeth

So jealous! I live in the northeast US where nothing like this exists. Here I am, living in a parched field, and not a single iron age barrow or Roman villa to be found. It's just not fair. 😂

Kathy Carlson

I'm in northern Wisconsin--and I agree with you. Not fair!!

Valory

Me too