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S22 | 2022: Site Wrestle - Roman Building (Site D) with Lawrence & Derek (Patreon)

Published:
2022-05-30 11:14:41
Edited:
2022-07-27 20:41:21
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

In our latest Site Wrestle session, Tim catches up with Lawrence Shaw and Derek Pitman to consider a site with a personal connection to Lawrence. While some of the team have suggested sites close their hearts, in this case it's close to his house – in fact, the modern housing development was built directly on top of an ancient Roman structure!

Naturally, some may well be thinking: wait, another Roman villa? But we've selected this particular site as an entirely different prospect to the subject of our recent investigation at Broughton.

This story is all about the hidden history on our own doorsteps, offering the opportunity for some classic Time Team back-garden archaeology featuring community spirit and a lot of elbow grease.

Some of Time Team's most rewarding episodes have been those that engaged the local community in a test-pitting strategy, highlighting the wealth of heritage all around us, just waiting to be discovered.

Another possible benefit of this site is its self-contained nature, with the potential to offer good value for the input – an additional counterpoint to some of the larger scale sites on the list. 

So, what do you think? As always, let us know in the comments...

Thank you to Michelle Ball for the excavation photos.

Files

Site Wrestle: Roman Building on Housing Development - Patreon exclusive

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Comments

Cheryl Kurucz

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Lynn Edwards

This is the third site wrestle... If Time Team are doing 3 sites, I think this would be the ideal one to add in.

Roger Mills

Not a convincing argument for me I'm afraid.

Robert Wise

I watched twice. Looks to me like among the arguments there’s plenty of enthusiasm, and curiosity. Is there a clear and driving question to be answered by a dig on this site? Did what looks like an earlier (unrestricted?) dig come up with any results hinting that a further dig here might help answer that question? What were/are the data and the question? How likely is it that a dig on this site would be able to answer that question given the restricted areas now available for digging? I wonder what would happen to the decision process if a brief Geophys of the available dig spots was done now … before any decisions were made … to provide some support for choosing, or rejecting the site?

Bob and Pam

The best site to see Time Team at is where ever the Time Team is. Dig where you will, it will be awesome.

Ann H

Would this have ranked third if we knew more about the site? That question needs to be asked. And maybe a wrestle about others lower ranked. Not keen on disturbing the orchard.

Irene Daly

Almost anyone living in the UK (quite literally), walks on ancient history and it lies (sometimes) mere inches from the surface. I son’s think its idle fancy; I truly believe it is one of the main reasons I feel so rooted to the country of my birth, by our past - and the rich mosaic of our history.

James Leighninger

While it is fun to see the presenters dashing about from back garden test pits to others, it doesn’t sound like there is much opportunity for follow up trenches to uncover mosaics or wall lines. This would be lower priority on my list of preferences. That being said, I will watch anything TT does.

Dawsie

I don’t care where the dig is as long as there are trenches and lots of good finds and a lot of fun with it. Being on the other side of the world this is my only way to get my fix on really old history other than watching re-runs lol

Nancy Bradfield

I am entranced by Patreon and Time Team. I'm an American with a British/Scotish heritage and from childhood on I have dreamed about how wonderful it would be to be part of the team - digging and brushing and shoveling and marveling over every tiny artifact, and here on-line I am also treated to the fine comments, the laughter among working friends and the results of the dig, whatever they may find. I watch Time Team every day; it's my favorite on-line activity. Thank you!!!

Pamela Brotherton

I am enjoying these site wrestle videos. It is definitely a difficult decision. So far each site has it merits.

Evelyn G Kimbrell

My gut feeling, as I watched this and took in the pitch for the site, is that this would better be addressed by the local archaeological society first, Previous TT digs in back gardens started this way, and developed into, as you say, a Carenza. I don't think I heard a compelling reason for this dig, aside from curiousity. Perhaps further research into context and history would be warranted.

Keith Jackson

This would be well down on my list for a full-blown TT. My interest wouldn't be sustained by umpteen test pits dug over three days. Better to follow a longer-term dig by a local group, perhaps even giving them a degree of technical support, and then to summarise their work in a one-hour TT Special.

Mark T. Beedy

Anytime that you can engage a community and get them interested and excited with their local history is worth the time and investment. Time Team has an opportunity here to motivate the locals and at the same time provide the resources to help determine what has happened there. Do it.

Wolfgang Zenker

Some questions I would like to have answered if we choose to do this site: How big is this site? Just the one already known building or are there more buildings around it? When was this a thing, when was the first building (phase) here, when did it end? Was the building or buildings abandoned and forgotten, or was it destroyed (and by whom and why)? Was it an agricultural, commercial or residential place? How did the people there make a living? If the site was in use not just for a short time, where were the people from this place buried? How was the site connected to the road network and/or navigable waterways?

Janie Waters

I'm not convinced. How well has the site been researched so TT wouldn't be going in "cold" and fishing around in a mess of test pits, which is a really complicated way to find a ... villa ... fort ... vicus ... temple complex ... mansio ... and all other manner of Roman occupation. We've seen teasers of tesserai in the past and the team has come up empty. I need convincing for this one.

David Boon

I definitely think more work is needed to establish the position of the Villa in relation to the current buildings and yards before a dig. Also if there is surrounding context perhaps more work needs to be done on that as well before deciding on this as a TT site. As a primary educator and history curriculum expert, the involvement of the local school excites me. I am excited by the possibilities raised but would want a little more concrete evidence to convince me it rates above my two favourites.

Leanne Ulvang

I think this is not very high on my list either -- although I of course would relish anything TT does and I'm sure you could produce an interesting show from the dig. It doesn't seem to offer any "news" that is likely to change our understanding of Roman Britain. My mind could be changed if there were evidence of subsequent Anglo-Saxon occupation that might shed light on how quickly Roman Britain dissipated.

Patricia Amero

I'm a non-academic but keen amateur archaeo-dig sleuth and will weigh in at 8/10 as well. I really enjoy listening in on these more technical discussions regarding what makes for an interesting roman site.

James Lee-Pevenhull

The residents of the housing development may re-name their 'village' in Latin.

Donna Oglesby

In past when TT went into backyard gardens, most of the time it has nothing in them, for the three days and all the work digging. This dig, would be at the bottom on my want to watch list as well. there is already a LOT of documentation, pictures and so really a waste of time. I would much rather know more about the Greek site, or more about Viking or even Scottish or Irish history.

JUDITH COOKE

Love that the site is in Lawrence’s backyard and there is the possibility of community involvement. And yes, please, I’m all for pyrotechnological activity, Derek. But, yet another Roman villa would really need to offer something special, so if it has an important wider context, that would help.

Fern Wilcox

The TT programs which involved the community were wonderful on so many levels, essentially "ticking" all, or most, of Tim's criteria. Observing myriad finds unfolding over three days and the ultimate stories discovered was worth its weight in a hoard of coins! I hope this site meets the approval of the decision makers! Go for it!

Jon Colcord

It seems that many here seem to want to already know what we have before we dig in. I like the idea of having a load of mystery involved. I think it makes for good TV, and that here is one of the most important factors! I used to truly enjoy any episode when Time Team would rub elbows with a local community who otherwise would never engage in such activity. Some mention that they feel that local societies should do the work. I have to admit that there is nothing I hate more than watching Time Team stopping in to see work that is already in progress by others. Give me a good mystery any day, and a little suspense too. Will they find something? Will they not? That’s Time Team to me! It’s a show for us non-archaeologists who simply love history.

Hunt

Not excited by this one, unfortunately. Placing it in the context of the iron age forts would be interesting, but it doesn't sound like there would be anything else. Community archaeology is fantastic to participate in, but not really that great to watch (based on previous TT episodes focused on it). Add in that a villa was dug last season, and the frequency with which villas have been covered before, and this is way down my list of possibilities.

Rachel Greenham

"It seems that many here seem to want to already know what we have before we dig in" Unfortunately this is probably inherent in the way it has to be funded and organised right now. A Patreon project that can maybe do two or three sites a year, kinda has to be sure it's going to be a hit each time. When it was like 13 programmes in a series, you could afford (notwithstanding they apparently did the site wrestles even so) to have one or a few duds in that series. By duds of course I mean, not spectacular in terms of finds (in one famous example, nothing at all, in another, an outright hoax...), but they're always able to make something teachable with it. I mean, what's the appetite among Patreon backers for one of the two or three digs this year to be another "No Stone Unturned"? Would we struggle with that?

Sarah Holloway

This is my favourite site as I grew up on a very similar site that has never been looked at or investigated .

Elizabeth Neill

I rewatched Kemerton, Worcestershire last night and was so pleased to understand it better this time and what a successful dig that was on a site that had been inhabited in so many different eras.

Elizabeth Neill

Also loved the little Dig Village series.