Word of the Day: Spoliate (Patreon)

Every now and then, our activities bring up an interesting piece of archaeological terminology – perfect for casually dropping into conversation when you wish to impress others with your vast knowledge.

During our recent excavation of the Oxfordshire Roman villa, Derek and Lawrence treated us to the term 'spoliated' when they stumbled upon a derelict farm building, hidden by foliage, just a stone's throw from the main site.

Although this building is evidently a much more recent structure than the villa, it's possible that it was built using masonry that was 'spoliated' (or repurposed) from the original Roman complex occupying the site nearby.

Throughout history, good quality stone has been a prized resource and, often, old buildings contain materials that have clearly been recycled from much earlier structures in the area. As this short video clip highlights, it's not the first time we've discussed the idea on Time Team.

Check out another example from Series 13, Episode 7: https://youtu.be/K20BfA6lf5k

Do you know of any other examples? Let us know in the comments below...

UPDATE

We have lots more to share with you very soon, as we begin to look at potential sites for 2022, gear up for the release of the upcoming episodes, and provide more insights from various members of the team. Watch this space...