Time Team is a popular British television series explaining the process of archaeology for the layman in the UK. Broadcast by Channel 4, the programme was first shown in 1994, and is presented by Tony Robinson. It is aired by the ABC in Australia at 6:10pm Tuesday nights.
Archaeology isnt just about digging up the mysterious remains of the long dead. It can reveal how we used to live in amazing detail by uncovering the minutiae of everyday objects, entire buildings and even the wrecks of vessels deep under the sea. It is a science that evolves as technology improves and there have been some amazing finds both on land and underwater. Archaeology isnt just for the experts; there are opportunities all over the UK for amateur enthusiasts to get involved at various levels.
A team of archaeologists, usually led by either Mick Aston or Francis Pryor (the latter usually heads Bronze Age and Iron Age digs), and including field archaeologist Phil Harding, congregate at a site, usually in the United Kingdom. The site is frequently suggested by a member of the viewing public who knows of an unsolved archaeological mystery, or who owns property that is unexcavated and potentially interesting. Time Team uncover as much as they can about the archaeology and history of the site in three days, often in conjunction with the local archaeological unit.
At the start of the programme, Tony Robinson explains, in his "piece to camera", the reasons for the team's visit to the site, and during the dig he enthusiastically encourages the archaeologists to explain their decisions, discoveries and conclusions. He tries to ensure that everything is comprehensible to the archaeologically uninitiated.
Excavations are not just carried out to entertain viewers. The archaeologists involved with Time Team have published more scientific papers on excavations carried out in the series than all British university archaeology departments put together over the same period
View the Time Team series. Videos hosted on Guba One of my favourite series is " Time Team. The Time Team - a group of archaeologists faced with a challenging mission have just three days to unlock some of the secrets and sort out questions raised by a member of public about a significant historical site in Britain, or abroad. Time Team have at their disposal all the advanced technical apparatus available to the modern archaeologist including ground radar, geophysical surveying, computerised reconstruction and helicopter surveys to complement the more familiar forms of archaeological exploration: digging, fieldwalking etc. Time Team leader Professor Mick Aston says: "In archaeology there is always something new to find out, a new adventure to explore. We are seeking to answer some of the many questions that people put time and again to archaeologists about the history of sites on their doorstep. And by following us around the cameras are able to capture something of the spontaneity and excitement of the everyday process of discovery. This is far removed from the more familiar 'talking heads' television approach to archaeology." The series has received critical acclaim, won several TV awards and regularly attracts viewing figures in excess of 3 million, something never previously achieved for a popular archaeology series on independent television in the UK. Archaeology is the scientific study of human culture through material remains. By excavating and examining the buildings, graves and debris of ancient sites we can discover what life was like hundreds, even thousands of years ago.
THE MAIN MEMBERS OF THE TIME TEAM :
Tony Robinson
 Tony Robinson
Professor Mick Aston
 Mick Aston
Phil Harding
 Phil Harding
Carenza Lewis
 Carenza Lewis
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