2,000-Year-Old Treasure Hoard Is Largest Roman Haul Ever | Digging For Britain | Unearthed History

Witness the unveiling of a 2,000-year-old Roman treasure hoard, the largest ever found, shedding new light on the Roman invasion's impact. Delve into the mysteries of Tintagel in Cornwall, where a remarkable Dark Age palace emerges, challenging historical narratives. Explore Salisbury Plain's trenches, unveiling secrets of World War I's frontline warfare. In South Wales, poignant infant burials unveil ancient care practices amidst high mortality rates. Join this captivating episode to unravel Britain's past through remarkable excavations and compelling narratives.
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[@adventurehawksancientharmo3519]

Coming from the background of being an ex archaeologist and having worked in a number of museums, it’s still upsets me to hear somebody say in her first three minutes that she’s about to see something that so FEW ever get to see. That’s what bothers me about museums; after they study it, unless it’s on display, it goes into a drawer somewhere. It would be nice if there was a way tofund a way to show all things found and have it on display at all times for everyone to see.

[@Radiantstorm9]

I agree with you

[@MrTorleon]

You raise a valid point, but in defense of Prof. Roberts, she does make it perfectly clear that she has been given ' privileged access ' to materiel in storage. Unfortunately most major museums around the world house more important artifacts in storage than can be displayed for the public to see. It isn`t an ideal situation, but does represent a perennial problem of limited display space. As an Emeritus Prof. of Early Medieval History, I recall a number of occasions when I was surprised ( but delighted ) when historic items were presented to me ' from the back room ' as it were, that I had been completely unaware of. The complexities, and the logistics of displaying more items or artifacts is an issue than continues to challenge museum curators, and is, unfortunately unlikely to improve in any significant way for the foreseeable future.

[@NikaBoyce]

@@MrTorleon I understand the point regarding the logistics, completely. There must be a profound back-log of finds that have remained out of reach to even working professionals such as yourselves. I am hopeful that in a couple of generations everything that lies behind the archive doors will be scanned and available for study by all. Its like that saying "Chopping your own wood warms you twice" ... and then perhaps "scanning your archive discovers even more treasures"

[@thereckoning5488]

Also, sadly, museums like the Smithsonian don't put things on display that would show that the truth is far from what we are taught or told.

[@maralfniqle5092]

How right you are, especially if it upsets or casts doubt on the "established" theories of some. Very unfortunate

[@fcukyou2_]

PHIL!!! Man it's always great to see him still in the field all these yrs later. The man is a national treasure.

[@engste678]

No he's not.

[@gerbrand8132]

He is

[@meeseification]

His enthusiasm is great to see .

[@brucejenner5856]

But he's never heard of nail scissors

[@DIWhyGarage]

*World treasure

[@ruththinkingoutside.707]

3:59 .. WOO! It’s Phil!! Gonna be a good segment for sure!! .. love that man!! His interviews on YT are so much fun to watch.. he is an absolute GEM!

[@aleta5873]

But his long finger nails creep me out.

[@Paleos1000]

@@aleta5873 Good for digging, however.

[@meeseification]

Phil's a guitar player, and those fingernails pick the strings.

[@meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee2]

Twin henges, triplet Roman temples he is a man built for speed.

[@moonschildren]

He took some getting used to but now I love his lovely enthusiasm!

[@johnsaunders8315]

Soooo great to see Phil Harding still with trowel in hand and still enthusiastic about stone tools.

[@BlaBla-pf8mf]

This is an episode from 2016

[@lynleygilchrist7703]

3:58 It’s a Phil Harding sighting!!! 🤩 Fabulous episode as always; but the ones with our illustrious flint-knapper extraordinaire are always that little bit more special. His enthusiasm is, to borrow his own words, “absolutely gorgeous” ❤

[@samuelgarrod8327]

He gives me the creeps 😂

[@jeffmeyer9319]

@@samuelgarrod8327 some things are best left unsaid

[@GailBrenner-vt9ou]

Thanks for your stellar observation.

[@lynleygilchrist7703]

@@GailBrenner-vt9ou thanks for your asinine one 🥰

[@forrestboothe6553]

Good to see Phil doing so well in his environment! I've missed him since his departure from Time Team, and always look forward to catching a glimpse of his enthusiasm.

[@sforza209]

Super cool to see Phil Harding on this program!!

[@Loops25]

So very happy to see Phil! I am even more happy to see him in charge of this important site. His intelligent analysis of what he sees in the ground is always amazing. I appreciate not only his enthusiasm, but his reliability. Thanks for this glimpse of his site.

[@jeremyrowley1240]

Don't get too excited. The credits show the programme was made in 2016.

[@Loops25]

@@jeremyrowley1240 So?

[@brettcurtis5710]

Prof Alice Roberts ....and Phil Harding (Time Team stalwart) - what a show!!

[@PPuffNstuff]

She looks like Jodi Foster

[@jonathanbair523]

Isn't (Time Team stalwart) the one they all ways say " We got 3 days to dig"

[@clovermark39]

@@PPuffNstuffshe’s better looking than Jodie.

[@amielwayne]

Yay! A Phil Harding sighting! 😊

[@judithlashbrook4684]

I love Phil!

[@Knards]

Phil is England to the core!

[@darthpaul490]

Ooh argh too right

[@blindfredy6128]

Good to see Phil again.

[@ralphgoodman8181]

A​@@blindfredy6128

[@Kusoka1]

Prof Alice is a real bonus treasure. So well spoken and professional. Always in my watch list.

[@MrHowardking]

I don't find the new Time Team episodes as engaging as the original. However, this series, Digging for Britain, is so different in many ways that I think it surpasses and surprises other contemporary series and even all others before. Prof Alice Roberts is the perfect front for the series, so much so that she is, to my mind, the equivalent of being the David Attenborough of archaeology. Then, when you add Phil Harding to an episode, you know you will end up with a classic. What a combo they are. I am still smiling on hearing Phils laugh and witnessing his enthusiasm for the subject once again.

[@ccsullivan9164]

Recently watched an episode of Wessex Archaeology and as they were reviewing some finds in a passageway they passed by an almost full sized sculpture of Phil Harding replete with hat. No feather though. Might be ritual purpose for the feather?!

[@skyhigh1154]

I miss sir Tony 😢

[@annazaman9657]

When Alice said Wessex archeology, i was hoping Phil Harding would make an appearance. Yay

[@TimmyB1867]

Any day with Phil is a good day in archeology

[@junestanich7888]

Love seeing Phil again!!

[@DT-sb9sv]

I'd like to work with Phil on a Clovis site over here across the pond. We have very cool lithic sites over here. His enthusiasm is contagious, sometimes us archaeologists can get jaded.

[@alanphillips556]

Clovis is most intriguing, but now I must admit, the u s a has a much easier past it seems, you guys seem to be pushing human occupation further and further into the past, with that and the decimation caused by the y d b and interesting history yo say the least. When I finally get over there from the uk. I so much want to go to serpent mound. It seems a very special and sacred place. Take care yall. Love from over the way.😁👍

[@DT-sb9sv]

@@alanphillips556 Serpent Mound is amazing. I'd suggest some of the sites in the Southwest as well. The rock art there is amazing.

[@GaryNoone-jz3mq]

The reason so many soldiers were slaughtered in the first word war was down to their leadership, not their training.

[@FreeFallingAir]

This is absolutely fascinating. I would give anything to get to it with a shovel and spade myself. Phil Harding is a absolute legend.

[@amc5966]

Another fantastic episode. Loved the last part highlighting that babies have been loved and lost for all humanity.

[@williamwilliam5066]

Not quite true is it, people from the Gaza strip hate others far more than they love their own children.

[@davidd6171]

Phil is a legend!!

[@OcotilloTom]

As a retired U.S. Marine who served 26 months in combat in Vietnam I find it interesting that we were still digging emplacements with fire steps and laying out our machine gun positions much like these shown here. As an aside my grandfather served with the U.S. Army artillery in France during WW-1. Tom Boyte GySgt. USMC, retired Vietnam i965-66, 1970-71 0331,Infntry machine guns

[@jeffmittag6681]

Thank you for serving

[@richardmason4941]

Oh Wow!! the elusive Phil Harding on the digs! love this Guy and his enthusiasm for History and archeology!

[@Joe_0808]

Phil Harding is on the show .. and everyone is RIGHTFULLY flipping out :))

[@jasonking6892]

Phil Harding a Good Bloke but let's not Forget my mate MIck Ashley a real Gem Thx lads 👍🇬🇧

[@DrivermanO]

Aston

[@terryyakamoto3488]

Mick Aston is the archaeologist, Mick Ashley is the bloke who peddles nasty nylon tracksuits through Sports Direct

[@gailhowes9398]

Nice to see Phil Harding again!

[@EmbraceTheJourney]

thank you for another fascinating video, always good seeing Phil

[@leslietarkin5705]

Always love to see Phil. This was very interesting.

[@alyssiar1]

0:38 Phil!! holy crap I remember him from watching time team with my dad as a kid

[@Squid981]

Big Phill in the house 🏠

[@bethbartlett5692]

Phil Harding captures my interest for watching this video.

[@Teresa-ih4sn]

What a lovely, great show! Thank you Alice, Phil and all the archeologists who work so hard to bring us informative stuff like this! Keep digging!!!❤

[@Jamesah1975]

More Phil please!

[@pup1008]

I *LOVE* Phil! Great to see him on this & not looking that much older than on TT!

[@markdawson6797]

Alice is fantastically talented ❤

[@GaryNoone-jz3mq]

I love this real archaeology. No three day limit. No tiny trenches. Just keep digging until you have what you came for. Whether that takes days, months, or years😊

[@BenSHammonds]

Hello Phil !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a fab hoard they found on Jersey, truly impressive in its magnitude

[@MrVaug]

That coin hoard seems to look like a sack shape, fascinating.

[@ccsullivan9164]

My first thought? Offshore banking.

[@jimmurphy6095]

When Phil Harding is speaking in vowels only... he's got a good find. Aaaaa, Ooo, Uuuuu.... :)

[@user-os7kv5uq7f]

This is my first time watching. I think this may become one of my favorite channels to watch. 😊

[@justdaveh5860]

Phil!

[@giovanni5063]

Made me think of my own maternal Grandmother dead and buried in 1925 with her infant daughter in her arms.

[@aravel5249]

9.40 Phil has special ceremonial balls it seems.....🤣

[@clementulcoq5440]

My Grandfather trained on the Salisbury Plain during WW1. He enlisted at 14 years old, fudging his age. He served for England then moved to Australia where he served in the Australian infantry in WW2.

[@jamescadillac1448]

As an American I’m more entertained by British History than the US. Because there is more there. And Prof Alice Roberts is beautiful and I love her accent.

[@davidfinch7407]

Me too. I often think it's a shame America didn't exist in the Middle Ages.

[@ibl82]

What is her accent?

[@aaaaaaaanya]

@@davidfinch7407it did

[@aaaaaaaanya]

@@ibl82Bristol

[@aaaaaaaanya]

America has an incredible ancient history, I am so confused by this statement? Is Native American history disregarded? They had burials, artefacts, monuments, religions, languages etc just as our British history contains?

[@nickharmer3049]

Absolutely brilliant.!! Thank you 👍

[@dann5268]

"Not on the average take out menu "..... Love Phil Harding!!

[@alanphillips556]

Thanks once again for a fantastic documentary.

[@roblowe9283]

You are Doing a Great Job

[@gerbrand8132]

I hope this never stops.

[@kennethtasa5959]

Wonderful episode !

[@sonyad4765]

I'd love to hear more updates on the excavations at Tintagel!

[@glendamears3618]

Great documentary Thankyou 😊

[@gregedmand9939]

Having dug minor entrenchments in training during my Army service, it's a staggering feat to replicate acres of "enemy" trenches and fighting positions. There had to be a double purpose for both assault preparations and their own defensive works. All that chalk must have been a real treat to dig with hand tools. They didn't likely have a fleet of JCB backhoes to do the hard work. Motivating men to work this hard in a peaceful field must have taken some skilled leadership. In France you would have had plenty of incentive to dig, with shells falling around you.

[@stephenbesley3177]

My own stamping ground. There is so much archaeology here it has to be a great place for students

[@michelleharrell8452]

Maybe those large stones were placed on the baby's burial to perhaps prevent animals from digging up the burials.

[@markledford4370]

ENJOY YOUR SHOW 👍

[@jfc213]

wow very very interesting thanks more please

[@dannypitt2817]

Brilliant and interesting,

[@johntucker6269]

On the henge with Phil maybe the stone balls were used in a leather sling for hunting

[@Buy_YT_Views.322]

Goosebumps!

[@williambock1821]

“Sir?” “Yes ,Dave ,ya lil devil?” “You’re holding it backwards. The decoration is on the other side.”

[@neverendingmods]

All excavations very cool. Thanks for putting this together. Tip. Whoever was the camera person for the Cave excavation site, where burials were inside and outside the cave during various time periods, must stop with the camera spinning, constant focus changes in slow motion, and other odd camera movements that cause vertigo, dizziness, and inability to keep watching. Steady camera and rapid focus . Smooth and steady.

[@robertneven7563]

Thank you so much dearst Alice , afher a day hard work I am verry please to see your videos

[@serranaferrer3343]

Gracias

[@sebastianmaharg]

Learning a great deal about the "Raimans".

[@DeanStrautins]

Placing a bone of your ancestor in the grave of the recently deceased shows the desire to maintain connection with family heritage.

[@user-ok9ft1iv4x]

We have been told by neighbors about or grandparents age that where I live was once the site of the old Indian encampment. When excavating a waterline approximately 175 foot long by hand we came across a circular spot of charcoal about 4 foot wide at about 2-5 in depth. We've discovered these same circular deposits of charcoal at other locations at about this same depth. We believe these are the old Indian campfires. We would like to have this charcoal carbon dated. Also one of the old fields here has been full of Indian arrowheads and flint fragments . In fact there is a large arrowhead collection of them about 2'/2'.

[@MaximusDonatellami]

Im in love with your channel.

[@stevepringle2295]

Those axes look unused. The ridge flakes are still shiny. WOW. Ceremonial use?

[@resourcedragon]

I wondered if they'd given them a bit of a service and polish before burying them.

[@lianefehrle9921]

54:48 thank goodness these babies and mothers were found. Saving them from going into the ocean. That way they can be heard about their story of how they lived and died. 😢it is so sad though.

[@zherin2063]

Keep digging' guys! It's all down there!

[@glendamears3618]

Goodol Phil 😊❤

[@valerieprice1745]

The white quartz pebbles likely date that cemetery to the early Christian period. The purpose of the pebbles is known to the Orthodox Church. The pebbles were used by very early Christians to sing the Psalms. Pebbles were later replaced by prayer ropes, and after the Great Schism, Roman Catholics adopted the rosary. There would usually be 150 pebbles, but more or less, depending on how many prayer songs a worshipper could sing. I don't know if the pebbles were used by practicing Jews before the time of Christ, but I think it's very likely. If the cemetery is really before Christ, then it's probably a Jewish coastal trading outpost, or perhaps native Britons who practiced Judaism. Either way, it's not a pagan practice. It's Judeo-Christian. Being an Orthodox Christian, I'm always surprised at the knowledge that has been lost in secular academia's rebellion against God. They claim to be experts in their field, but the average Orthodox priest knows more about the past than any archeologist. It only goes to show, there's no such thing as an expert in secular archeology. Whoever buried that child put the pebbles there to sit and sing more than a hundred Psalms in prayer for the baby's soul. So sad. I hope they didn't remove the bones for their macabre, Neo-gnostic, death cult fascination.

[@trevorbarthorpe3251]

😊the legend Phil he was Time Team Alice just as brilliant as ever

[@bimmjim]

This is like TV. I want lectures because I want to learn.

[@davidandrew1078]

The axe heads are actually golf club heads and the chalk balls are the golf balls. Stonehenge is actually a large putt-putt course. I could be wrong of course but that is archeology.

[@Tom-xm7iq]

Haha

[@T_bone]

50:13 What if that site was bandits or pirates who raided the coast and captured ships or raided towns and that became their stronghold for a go amount of time. Looks pretty rough, but sturdy for bad weather.

[@gobstoppa1633]

just fell over board in love the first time alice roberts appeared on what was at the time my favourite tv program. and many yrs later nothing has changed, the most good looking girl and women alice roberts. a true diamond.

[@seibrav]

"The coins are getting debased." Sounds like the Federal Reserve here in the US.

[@michelleg7]

I am wondering if the young children's burials were so significant because of their vulnerability and loss to the community they were born into. That they were vital to their survival so each loss could be very devastating. I know that in jewish tradition that a stone put on the grave is often a sign of rememberance to those who have died. Christianity as whole was born from Judaism and we have some of remanents in christianity from Judaism. Just a thought on my part.

[@angelafoxmusic7265]

What a marvellous show. You can tell it'll be good if Alice Roberts is in it. 😊

[@arielmyers4028]

i got a bit of a giggle with the military section because she kept saying "we never would have known they trained" like wow ok they did that poorly I didnt think so

[@fanaticforager6610]

New 🆕 Tech’ unveils those secrets 💎 ✨

[@donald2451]

I believe they're storage Pits. Summer homes , winter homes , hunting camps. People have always done it. It's easier to leave it than carry it

[@talanigreywolf7110]

Phil!!!

[@HanstheTraffer]

Tintagel: Wasn't that the top of a tin mine? All kinds of "shafts" underneath?

[@LotsofWhatever]

I have eatched enough Time Teams to recognize the guy with the glass at Tintagle and the guy who has done a few Project Nightingale Richard Osgood just frim the intro bit.

[@valerieprice1745]

I think Phil Harding was holding up a sling shot, not a religious item. Shot for slings were made of lead, stone, and clay in ancient times. Chalk would do plenty of damage, and quick to produce. I'm surprised he didn't know it right away.

[@ktloz2246]

That Thornbury Horde is amazing. Geez that must have been a bank that deposited all that money. Just think of all the things that much money could of brought back then. Those gold necklaces that looked like big door knockers, i wonder how they got those on, his explaination of twisting them open didn't seem likely since they looked solid. Are there any paintings that show someone with this type of necklace? Good to see Phil.

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

It's like an 18" Stone Henge right next door to the original. Really makes you wonder who the Druids were, and what they were doing.

[@Strigulino]

At 31:57 the map spells Antioch "Anitoch". Just shows that even the greatest make mistakes. :)

[@grevberg]

The problem with WW1was not the training it was walking slowly across no mans land during a hail of bullets and artillery shells

[@dcmackc01]

Phil! Great to see you! But lose the comb-over, bro!

[@bwcdevices3028]

Seriously, the idea that people 1500 years ago didn't love their children is bizarre...

[@troyrockwell7744]

Depends on the culture.

[@jeffmittag6681]

Well, what do you think of the one child rule in China ?

[@vicksman2023]

There were advanced civilizations at this time.

[@kylegawron5358]

I took latin as a language in highschool but my teacher kept getting sick from seizures so i barely learned anything. Would love to be an archeologist, but I would rather learn on the field then in a classroom. I'm a hands on visual learner and I retain the information better. I find these things very intriguing and fascinating, and exciting. Also took biology and anatomy and physiology in highschool.

[@resourcedragon]

Some areas have archaeological societies where members can go out and assist on digs. If you have one near you that would be a good place to start your archaeological journey. If not, maybe contact your local university if they have an archaeology department and see if you can assist them on one of their digs.

[@suec6521]

About WW1 surely the point was that the leadership of the army were using out dated methods of sending men over the top, running towards the enemy trenches which predated the advent of machine guns. The days of bombardment for a number of days before the advance had little or no effect on the dug in Germans. No amount of training could equip men to face such a barrage of fire which just mowed them down in vast numbers. Such a pointless waste of human life. My grandfather was a dispatch motor bike rider and mechanic in France during WW1. He died of wounds 12 years after returning home to Australia. My mother was 10. Her last remaining memories when she died at 92 in 2012 with dementia, were mainly of the father she lost.

[@scottspaine4864]

Someone explain to me why only "bits" of pottery and other artifacts are found. What has happened to the rest of the item?? I would 5hink that if someone was living on this site a complete pot, plate or urn would remain.

[@shovelhead4558]

Went to the WW1 battle fields it was a disaster sending so many into machine gun fire a total mess they never stood a chance.

[@johnlewton3918]

Have these digs been published?