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Site Wrestle 2: Roman Villa (Patreon)

Published:
2021-02-08 14:30:10
Edited:
2021-02-08 14:30:57
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Videos

Content

Well, it's starting to get a bit rowdy! The Originals continue to battle it out over another site contender – a Roman villa.

Once again, the team debate the merits of the site based on initial impressions, before giving a score out of ten. How will this one fare? Let's find out!

Files

PTN-site wrestle1-Roman-villa.m4v

Comments

Beth Dixon

As a viewer, I love all the Roman Villa episodes! I've watched them all many times! I would be excited to see you do another ❤️

Phelim McIntyre

Agree with the low scores. Sorry, but my first thought was "oh no, not "another" Roman Villa". Yes you will probably get lots of nice finds and clear responses on geophys but the school curriculum covers more than Romans so this should not bias a Roman site.

A Bleese

I agree with Beth, I've loved the villas. I would really like to see this, we know that there is a villa there. Seeing how and why the villa came to be built where it was, how that relates to any earlier settlement of the area and how it may have affected later developments in the area.

Eric Johnson

"The Originals". That can be their superhero group name I can picture the title sequence now.

Bob Pockney

Nowt wrong wi' a Roman Villa. The larger landscape would be interesting and modern geophys could do that.

Mark Cooke

Things have moved on, a villa could be a good place to try everything out it’s safe without being boring.

Daniel Defoe

Between the two thus far, I have to agree with the team that the Iron Age site would be far more interesting.

Carole Cox

10 True, I get no vote as an amateur but as an outsider I see a lot of potential. If you know something is there, you can cut to the chase. The ability to examine a broader landscape and perhaps tie in supportive structures and functions has a lot of beauty. A villa of that size would have had on site supportive industry. I wish to know more about the technology of archeology and how it is strictly interpreted. In this case how would metal detectors support John's work - or not! When you already know something is there- I think the use of geophys data can be enhanced for future digs on " unknowns" I totally get that for the team another Roman Villa is " been there, done that". However, the opportunity to examine from a different view offers strong potential. Best of luck to the team!

Eric Swanson

If "Legacy", includes a "Base of Operations" for "Time Team The Originals" productions: then 7 becomes a 9.5........ Subject to John's pub survey, of course...

Paul Brekke

I think the team are right in thinking about a different/original way of framing a villa site. While finding mosaics, bathhouses and hypocaust give us all a nice, warm feeling, we need to know more about the people, history and context of it all in order to add to the TT canon. That said, I _am_ curious to see what John's newest array of sensors would make of a roman villa :-)

William F. Campbell

Are sarcophagi a very rare find? If so, the status of this site probably should go up. Does the sarcophagi increase the possibility of other rare finds like carved stone work or inscriptions? Plus, John's cutting edge techie stuff seems really interesting and a way to avoid digging in the wrong place.

SEAN STANLEY

Good comments on Roman Villa sites as it would be more beneficial if they also included a wider prospective. It would then cover most peoples interests. I'm sure the Team will do us proud.

Always86

I always enjoy the Villa’s. The older the history the more interesting for me. Villa’s are just about the oldest structures of substance that we can examine. (Obvious exception being Neolithic monuments.

John Matthew IV

I always loved the Time Team's Roman programmes, sorry to see the team has gotten a bit jaded about them. I do think they remain popular in the wider audience. This dig could also serve well to display current techniques and may well have a positive lasting legacy. We do need an update on the local pub though.

Alan Justice

I feel that I’ve seen enough Roman villas on the original series, though if there were an effort to understand the community around the villa, that would be interesting. If not, I’d vote for Bronze Age or Stone Age digs. And always a good local.

heith Doty

I'm with the team . A 7 . The highlight is the sarcophagus that was found . And mite find other things like it with the new kinds of ground penatration radar. A good opportunity for the next generation of kids to learn and maybe one day become a phil or a mick or so on .

Andrew McFarland

Whatever else you do, get some drone footage; cheaper than helicopter rides and more flexible (and its just kinda fun) Wouldn't it be brilliant if one could do some form of geophysing from a drone? Just feed it the bounding coordinates and go have a pint! :-)

Patti McCarthy

I'm sure the TT knows a lot more than I do about choosing sites to dig and study, but while I fully agree with Carenza's arguments for excavating the site, I was surprised she gave the site a 6.5 rating. I honestly thought she'd vote much higher given those reasons. Viewers love Roman Villa's. They aren't just romantic, but relatable to modern audiences. Context within the landscape and the Villa's relationship within the larger community are important and fascinating angles to pursue. Thought with such an interesting landscape to explore, Stewart would be just as excited as John. A Roman sarcophagus? Wow! I don't remember TT ever excavating one on site. Fascinating. The possibility for TT to champion and standardize new geophysic archeological technology and techniques would be a great "first" for the new series. Not to mention the legacy project (property owner donation of TT visitor/research center space) for on-going research on-site that might be a source of funding for the new series, etc.. I'm with John. Can I vote 11?

Dave Storetec

It's a 10 from me. As a Roman enthusiast, I first came to Time Team for its Roman site excavations and since grew to enjoy all the episodes. I think the opportunity to explore an 80-metre villa with all of the latest tech kit would be amazing. It would also bring a lot of interest to the Time Team rebirth project, which shouldn't be ignored.

Freda Bradley

I find these discussions very interesting. They break down different aspects of thought among the team and it helps show us both the diversity of ideas and possible story lines, but also how each person contributes to the whole. This is great.

Byron Geoffrey Farrow

Opportunity to bring the Ermine Street Guard back to the show, real Time Team continuity!

Anthony cotton

I know where this site is and I'm really excited by the landscape surrounding it and the context of the villa in that landscape. I think John and his geophysics team would be in there element here and would be great to see how the technology has moved forward since the last time teams. I'm obsessed with roman history and love those episodes although in the later series they were more obsessed with chasing mosaics it felt rather than the context. One of my favourite episodes is still turkdean. And I think that's because the focus was as much on the building as on the landscape surrounding it.. I can still hear micks excitement as he got to see the parchments from the helicopter. This site really excites me and would love to see this episode made

Sarah Mooring

I think that it would be completely fascinating. It would be wonderful to see a mixture of the new tech and traditional excavation. I'm always a happy camper when it comes to yer akshul Romans!

Robert Boudreau

While a villa doesn't in itself interest me, the chance to place it in a larger context does. I would love to see what John's latest kit can do, as well as how that could help interpret what impact the creation of the villa had on the previous occupants, as well as what happened after. The chance to learn more about the pre and post villa periods would peak my interest more than the villa itself.

Justin Freeman

These conversations are an absolute delight, worth the price of admission on their own!

Laura Ann Flynn

It’s just so lovely to see everyone eager about anything — even a Roman villa — that I can’t help but be excited about it myself. John Gator’s exuberance over new geophys equipment is infectious! It’s sweet to see the Time Team still so engaged with each other. I believe I shall be happy with whatever bones Time Team throws at us. Whether they be from Romano-Britain sarcophagi or an Anglo-Saxon cremation burial!

Paul Middleton

Sounds great would be good to if a site like this could be opened up to school parties for some hands on archeology to many inner city children would never have the chance to do this as Carenza said books are one thing but real hands on archeology is another i wish I would have had the chance when at school or at anytime since.

Barry Davis

The idea of making the site and the dig educational for students really appeals to me. I taught history and used archeology in my lessons to add substance and hands on experience. To be able to come up with lesson plans on what and how GeoPhys is used could combine math and science in a very practical way. In addition, the use of Stewart's knowledge of how landscapes change over the years, can make the Earth sciences more real. As you can tell, I would volunteer to come out of retirement to help gather data and make into lessons that would inform, involve and captivate students as well as teachers. Plus, digging a Roman villa would be something that would be so familiar to so many of us who have watched in the past, and something that a new generation of viewers could connect with.

Ray Roberts

I think you have to think about what Mick would have rated this site. When you throw in the landowner and community support; examining the broader landscape to understand the passage of time surrounding the villa; and involving school kids wouldn't Mick have rated this a 10? Villa's didn't arise in isolation. There was a past and a community of support that is rarely examined by Roman digs which tend to focus almost exclusively on the villa alone. I don't know how much "broader" landscape is available here but a real focused effort (possibly over periodic return episodes) to examine the infrastructure that surrounds and supports a Villa; the history that predates the Villa and possibly clues to what happened after 410 CE into the "dark ages is a golden opportunity. And my counter to the lack of "intellectual excitement" is that the rebirth of TT needs to reach a new broad audience and Roman Villa's still capture people's imaginations. And after examining the broader landscape and the issues I've already raised, let's see how much intellectual excitement there turns out to be. If it truly turns out boring, I'll buy a round at the pub.

Jon Colcord

Was there ever a season of Time Team that didn’t include at least one Roman site of some sort? I don’t think there are any eras or site types that have not been covered really. Just saying it would be near impossible to not have a Roman site in a season.

Steve Atkins

I'm really enjoying watching these sessions. Being able to see the nuance involved in the decision making process and the protagonists arguing their position is both fascinating and insightful. Thanks. From my perspective, a Kiwi far removed from the English countryside, I'll watch anything that involves archeology so fill ya boots.

Eggs Ackley

Engaging dialog with great points raised by everyone. Is it my imagination or did all those years hanging out with Phil rub off on John?🍺🍺🍺

Tanis Sugden

I really like the dialogue among the principals and their perspectives. It's very interesting to hear all the factors bring considered. Personally, I find the Romans, especially villas, my least favorite topic of the TT episodes. The subject in schools is usually beaten to a pulp. However, if the antics of the team and a good pub can keep it engaging, I am sure it will make it worthwhile.

Alex Gregory

The Roman period has always fascinated me, especially thanks to all the work TT did over the years. I think it’s mainly due to the change in living “standards” from the late Iron Age to early Roman period. Yes there were very big important round houses but why did people decided that a villa is a better option? And why did when the Romans left in the early 5th century, people not keep the Roman building way of life going? Was it just because it was easier to go back to building in timber again? I think there was a program I watched not long ago that at one of the forts on Hadrian’s wall, there was new evidence to suggest that they were re using buildings into the 5th & 6th centuries. The think about villas I find interesting is where did these people go when the Romans left? Did they move to another field and build a timber structure? Did they re use the existing villa and modify it? They have got to have gone somewhere... if that question can be answered then it would be most interesting. I don’t think many Time Teams looked at where these people might have gone after... that would be an incredibly interesting aspect to look at although it may be harder said than done. So I’d go with John and give it an 11.

Philip Stack

Well the clues that Tim was dropping in make this sound very interesting, as well as the chance to put the villa into its wider context, and to start an enduring project. While I understand why villas don't enthral everyone, I do think they make good television: the structure tends to be tangible and you aren't straining to see the stain of an Anglo-Saxon post hole, which so often depends on the skill of the camera operator (and luck?). I don't think you can miss this one.

Robert Baker

I think the key is to generate as much publicity as possible and to get TV interested, so a Roman Villa would be perfect

Richard Moss

I get the lack of archaeological enthusiasm, but some of the comments here are spot on in terms of how attention-grabbing this one could be. There have been some fantastic Time Team digs where there are no eye-catching structures in the ground or heaps of finds but never underestimate the appeal of the visual. It's also about the way someone lived which always appeals to people.

Carl Johnson

Maybe the way to pick a site is to look for a good local pub and see what needs to be dug up around it :)

David Richardson

Whilst I understand the lack of archaeological interest, the new TT has got to be a commercial undertaking as well. They need an attention grabber for a kick off, and it would give them a chance to demo all the new techniques that have arisen since the show was on. How about some Lydar?........

Mike Lowndes

Lol watching the 'pint in the pub' in Looking For Harold, I just thought how nice that would actually be to do....

Mike Lowndes

You could just do villas and I'd be happy 8^)

Michael Rothenberg

Great to hear them bringing metal detectorists and archaeologists closer together, much needed!

Michael Schneider

Looking at a goal of bringing back TT long term , I think the idea of community linkage and bringing in schools is very important and a huge plus. One of my favourite scenes is watching the crowds gather behind the crew enthusiastically following what was going on. Also watching school children did test pits and clean pottery chards is such a powerful visual. That was one of the huge attractions of TT was its ability to make archeology accessible and exciting.

Ian

This was a great discussion, and loved the banter between them all, again showing one of the many things that made Time Team work.

Terri

10 so many reasons

Melissa Rybb

I give this a 7.5. It pulls together so many things and provides an opportunity to look at relationship between promontory fort and later villa. Tim also mentioned other earthworks. The sarcophagus is intriguing as well. Is burial related to proximity of fort and earthworks? Using it as an example of coöperation with metal detectorists is another plus, as are the opportunity to see John's kit in a site like this and the enthusiasm of the landowner. On the downside is that it's a villa.

David Boon

I think the issue with this site are that the positives such as the focus on the broader landscape and time period are likely to require a longer time period than the usual TT three days. The educational links are a positive if the focus is on understanding the broader context of Roman occupation of the site. I certainly have this at number two after viewing the first two potential sites.

Craig Sutton

This sounds like it has everything, Roman is always exciting for the general public and as a first site for the new time team it sounds excellent. Couple that with the ongoing future interest in the site the PR could be great

Craig Sutton

and who doesn’t like a mosaic

Steven Meeks

Turn John lose and let him show us his magic. I enjoy the Roman Villa's the most since they are very rare across the pond.

Larissa Spiker

I do tend to agree that there is a "Oh, another Roman villa" fatigue, BUT I LOVE the legacy aspect of this. And somehow TT always made the digs so interesting that by the end I forgot that I was tired of "another Roman villa." So I have faith that will happen again with a revamped show.