A Roman Villa Hidden In A Farmers Field? | Time Team | Timeline

In the 1960s, a young PhD student decided to excavate a South Oxfordshire field where a farmer was regularly ploughing up Roman remains. Now aerial pictures show clear building lines in the ground, indicating that there was something big in the field, and the farmer who owns it continues to turn up Roman brick and tile.
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[@tubularap]

I like it when Stewart, mostly a silent team member, comes forward with a brilliant insight that re-kickstarts the project..

[@Mimzie-Arizona]

It's rare. He is wrong most of the time

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

If it was easy, finding something special wouldn't be such a thrill. Love this show.

[@mcburcke]

My favorite person on the team is the digger operator...he is a total artist with that digger; man and machine acting as one.

[@readmycomment3157]

He ded now

[@Thirdbase9]

Ian was the unsung hero of Time Team.

[@nicholassweazey987]

THE OVERLOOKED HERO

[@bruceparks3124]

We saw the backhoe operator taking off just an inch of soil at a time. If you think that's easy you'd be wrong. It takes years of practice and a good measure of natural talent to accomplish.

[@BryonLape]

Ian and his skills are the unsung hero of this series.

[@dBREZ]

The guy that most impresses me? The backhoe operator. Bravo

[@RobBoudreau]

Ian Barclay, the excavator operator, was a wizard with those machines. Once watched him peel a banana held by Tim Taylor, the producer, with a backhoe. If you search "Ian Barclay Time Team" you'll surely find some of the outtakes of tricks he did with excavators. Truly sad to have lost him. Rest in Peace Ian.

[@gasfiltered]

@@RobBoudreau both Ians were good diggers. Is it true the younger Ian was also a full-fledged archaeologist who often had his own trench to supervise as well as run the JCB?

[@MendTheWorld]

Yeah, that guy’s got some chops.

[@wayneziegelemyer2161]

Ian's an artist with the digger

[@J_Gamble]

I was thinking the same thiing :) Very skilled.

[@dylanmccallister1888]

The contrast between the site and those cooling towers in the same frame. Human history in a picture

[@clayton56tube]

that farmer was outstanding in his field

[@erepsekahs]

That was funny 50 tears ago.

[@Thirdbase9]

How many people thought when they heard "In the 1960s, a young PhD student." Why don't they just ask Mick where he dug.

[@cjpenning]

I thought so, too. Until they said he didn't mark out its exact location. Then I thought, if it was Mick they won't tell us.

[@georgedorn1022]

The student's name was G. Thomas according to the desk based assessment undertaken prior to Time Team's excavation.

[@barryeva9186]

G Thomas so that is what he did before bike riding

[@donnal.oglesby4806]

Love Phil... God bless him, bad back and knees and at his age, he continues...

[@BryonLape]

Even given the amount of Roman records that exist, the amount of history that is lost is staggering.

[@marcietorrence5361]

We have 'cancel culture' idiots taking down magnificent Confererate Statues in the USA because they are "offended" !!!!

[@kuidaorekitchen5850]

@@marcietorrence5361 Calm down.

[@katerinakemp5701]

@@marcietorrence5361 maybe because of what those statues portray about the lack of equality for certain citizens of the country YOU THINK 🤔

[@panoschristou5623]

@@marcietorrence5361

[@sirdavidoftor3413]

It is not lost just buried and forgotten! Stay safe, stay sane, be well

[@lazeras88]

I have found myself watching all these episodes and then looking them up on google earth to see how they are today. This one was tricky to locate as the power station now only has three funnels so locating the field was a bit tricky. Edit. Found the field and today you would never know what happened here, Its back to being a field again.51'38'30'N 1'17'15'W

[@zenzeleluckymtshali8433]

GOOD MORNING

[@p99guy]

While I realize the self imposed 3 day time limit is part of the show formula, And adds pressure, and a bit of drama To the process...( the old BBC GroundForce did the same) but I really Wish that you had more time when needed, at some of these sites. I believe More things could potentially be found in the end.

[@ahhbreyette]

Especially the sites that are under water!

[@debraperez7171]

Thank you!

[@knightshousegames]

See, if they were smart, they'd do followup episodes on sites like this one, and give themselves another 3 days to try to follow up on the leads they found previously

[@nckoes]

They do follow-up shows and turn over started sites to local archeologists. Look at the Time Team specials. I think there were over 60 filmed.

[@WyattRyeSway]

We don’t see them bury the sites again though so perhaps Time Team move to another site while off camera, excavation continues. I don’t know. I’m a Russian living in the US. I know nothing about British archaeology. I know in Arizona, basically all works stop if archaeology examples are suspected. I live in Chicago though. I just saw that about Arizona in a museum there. Obviously the UK will have much better archaeology sites.

[@cristiaolson7327]

Anybody ever wonder if after these guys do their bit on the show the landowners are intrigued enough to have (or allow) further archeological work to be done? I'd be so excited if they found stuff like that in my yard that I'd probably invite interested anthropologists or archeologists to have at it until the site was exhausted. For that matter, if no one was willing or able to dig it, I'd probably be out there with a shovel, a hand trowel, a sieve, and a bunch of brushes, and a camera, string grid and site map to document it, digging it up myself out of sheer, unbridled curiosity.

[@Mimzie-Arizona]

If it was my property I would keep digging

[@joshschneider9766]

The lady that owns Wayne fleet tower at Escher place ended up writing a book. If you look at the channel "time team official" they interviewed her last year and talked about it.

[@zenzeleluckymtshali8433]

HI

[@amymack1954]

Sad to see Stewart up in the helicopter without Mick alongside him.

[@deborahallen3349]

This was an exceptional story from an exceptional series. Thanks for posting

[@jorgeramirez5]

Magnificent documentary!! I wish their was a part 2. Keep em coming !!!

[@leeproffitt69]

ok we have SOUND no lip reading today ,, thank you everyone for fixing the problem

[@daveycrocket2855]

I don't like the 3 day time limit . They should at least give themselves a week. Imagine how much more they could have found with two or three more days worth of digging.

[@gasfiltered]

Time Team was filmed over weekends and all of the main people had real jobs during the week. This was the main reason for only doing 3 days. The crew (70-100) people had to be housed and fed. They were often the same size as the villages they invaded and would quickly wear out their welcome. This is also a standard length for an exploratory dig; many of the sites they dug were further excavated when warranted. There's a really good Q&A with the crew posted somewhere that explains all the details.

[@daveycrocket2855]

Open Fields military tents and cots. I'm sure people can handle roughing it for a couple days. Important questions about history that you have more questions than answers. Just to say oh well and walk away.

[@nightkil13r]

The digs are usually turned over to local Archeologists, This one specifically ended up being not roman at all but a lesser known member of the British Royal Family, Edmund the Blackadder.

[@nightkil13r]

@Hoghs Its on my list of shows to watch, Discovering timeteam has been great.

[@johnmoss6631]

Perhaps if you had contributed a large sum of money DC, they could have dug a few more weekends.

[@stefanpaul842]

Beautiful team, beautiful work & fun in the same time, LOVE YOU !

[@TheSuprahuman]

I think Phil's toolbox(and hat) might pre date this Roman building :)

[@ronaldderooij1774]

My father had exactly the same toolbox. I can still hear the sound when opening it.

[@karanfield4229]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@karanfield4229]

@@ronaldderooij1774 thats a wonderful memory Sir.💕

[@edilveraguilar8655]

Good one!😄👍 --Shannon

[@kimjameson7979]

It's a miracle ! My deafness has been cured.

[@ThatIsJustCrazyTalk]

Kim Jameson, MINE TOO!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!

[@tifanimartin9683]

Mine as well !!!!!!

[@RedGyrl]

In a few years people are gonna see this and not know what to think! Lol

[@joeyr7294]

It is the only show that I turn of my surround sound, I love the show but the sound editing kills me

[@barbarachurchill5304]

It’s called ‘ The Cooling Tower Effect ‘.

[@DireitoConstitucional]

I'm learning English. This channel is excellent! Thanks.

[@ariosetiawan173]

Agree, i know little american english, but i'd interested with british english :D

[@lizabethgussman331]

It’s good that your learning English. I have to ask, your last name- Constitucional- is that your real name?

[@BFKAnthony817]

@@ariosetiawan173 Well, American and British English only split after Shakespeare, Jamestown was settled in like 1607. So we really speak the same language. VERY few differences in spelling or words for different things. Now, if you want to talk about language drift, compare the Icelandic language to Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. That has had 1000 or more years to evolve from other Scandinavian languages. American English has only had 400 years. Practically it is the same language, and spelling and structure. If you know one, you know the other. Same with Australian, New Zealand, South African and Canadian. Although Canadian is closer to American English. Only difference is our accents between all former British colonies. I would say at times, Indian or Jamaican English is harder to understand, even for other Native English speakers. So I can only imagine how difficult it can be for speakers who it is their 2nd language.

[@wareforcoin5780]

Just don't take the comments in the comment section as examples for correct grammar. They're usually extremely bad.

[@DireitoConstitucional]

Hi@@lizabethgussman331 ! Not. My name is Geraldo Andrade. I'm from Brazil!

[@Pezled]

Time Team notification always brings a big smile to my face. :)

[@tubularap]

4:37 - Wow. Pauze and watch the sky. Those clouds are worthy of a painting, even though the power plant's cooling stacks might have something to do with them.

[@maxdecphoenix]

i've watched dozens of these episodes and it was only after a previous episode mentioned 'Dr. Jenny Butterworth' when i had just watched another episode where she was only a research student that I realized Phil didn't actually hold a doctorate during this show's run. I just thought that was crazy because Phil was essentially tied for 2nd with Carenza (who is a doctor) under Mick in the team 'structure'. Phil has always been supervisor of his own trench, something they usually have the 'doctors' do. All under Mick.

[@bobmckenna5511]

I love that dude's accent in the woodland camouflage, I don't want to get the name wrong.

[@MariVictorius]

25:20 “The sun is beating down, and.....”. Sun? What sun? 🤣

[@nacholibre4516]

👍🏼😁 great! Thx for the reupload

[@wesleymcspadden5437]

For a History channel, they are fast at teaching us History

[@richardgrace4500]

They really don’t teach anything and I have yet to see and episode where they actually really figure anything out... 99% of their episodes are like this one where they don’t even find what the original archeologist found and barely find anything if they even find anything at all... they might hit a wall or two but then they miraculously pull explanations out of their assets with no evidence or proof to back them up

[@katerinakemp5701]

@@richardgrace4500 lol best you leave murica and show these archeologists how to go about it, considering that the original excavator didn't leave precise methods of identification as to where he was actually excavating just a drawing on paper, look at the size of the field with no plotting marks or means of identifying where he was digging.

[@DNAleguillou]

That's amazing. I love your channel. Thank you for the great videos 😃👍

[@TomMaynard--TCM--]

Yay! Audio!! Thanks.

[@tdunph4250]

Great show!!! The family and I LOVE IT!!

[@thefilmtube659]

Much better SOUND! Thank you!

[@lakosta0329]

Ah man favorite show i remember watching this on Viasat History chanell after school alone or whit my mom yust a beautiful memory.

[@joshw9037]

That’s awesome! Really nice how little random things can bring back such fond memories.

[@DarqueQueen7]

Ah! You found the soundtrack! Brilliant!

[@therealtoni]

Such an interesting and fun show to watch and great history to learn

[@tygrahof9268]

They need a month on this site.

[@everettmenard5196]

Dude: we've got something interesting to show you tony! Tony: about time! What have you got? A lot of time and effort from a lot of people.

[@sailorstarfairy1]

Thank you for fixing the sound! 💖💗💓

[@coldbews5458]

when I dig around all I find is beer cans. maybe I should try digging outside my front yard..

[@Christeky]

Just dig deeper!

[@kgspvgsp7569]

Stop throwing beer cans in your front yard bro

[@davidhocde007]

2000 years = 2000 mm or 2 meters...

[@katerinakemp5701]

🤣🍺🤣

[@philaypeephilippotter6532]

Every *Time Team, Time Team Special* and most *Time Team America* programmes have been posted on YT by *Fillask, Reijer Zaaijer* and the _official_ *Time Team* channel.

[@paulneilson6117]

Now let's figure out what family lived there. For now its drop tools and off to the pub, I love it. They hit a wall that's all they had to do.

[@coolhand67]

Jeez, Phil was grumpy!

[@markusarrow]

Bring this show back!!!!!

[@bettyprussia9777]

Such enthusiasm!

[@BryonLape]

The sad part about this is someone has already posted every episode. I really want to have a drink with Phil.

[@ivang97997]

this place worth going back to revisit.

[@JRandallS]

I was wondering if the burning might have been associated with Boodica's uprising. But that might have been to early to have impacted this farm. Of course it could also have burned during the Anglo Saxon invasion. Some C14 dating of that burnt stuff might have turned something up.

[@coastdweller]

Later finds determined this wasn't Roman but the residence of a little known member of English nobility Edmund Blackadder and his servant Baldrick.

[@Atomy111]

This is gold 😂😂😂

[@dianetersigni7359]

Is that true?

[@coastdweller]

@@dianetersigni7359 no, it's a joke. The host of this show was on a series called Blackadder . Rowan Atkinson was a character named Edmund Blackadder and the host of this documentary was his servant named baldrick.

[@dragoncrackers7660]

Maybe it was just a Roman farmhouse with a few fancy features. Like maybe there were not a bunch of grand mosaics; maybe there was just one in the main room or courtyard. Maybe it did have a heating system for a few rooms. England is cold. And also it probably was rebuilt at some point, like we do today. Many of our farms today are hundreds of years old but the houses are replaced from time to time. I think they found more than they realized.

[@jaspersjoint7433]

I gotta say, and not trying to be mean but Neil just isn't meant for running and coordinating a site and a crew. Some people aren't built that way, they just have to maybe be on his own or have someone else delegating, etc.. Nice enough guy it seems but I personally think that once Mick left (rest in peace Mick), Phil should've been the site boss. Phil's a smart MF'er- he always finds what he's looking for provided it hasn't been destroyed like that mosaic on this one.

[@yvonnediaz3115]

Thanks for fixing the audio!

[@tomtinkersrezlife278]

Ty love the show so much was upset yesterday's vid had no sound glad this one's ok

[@michaelhamilton4189]

What??? Ihaha yeah i actually tried lip reading

[@oldtrooper6325]

Who would have thought that 'Blackadder's' compatriot would be into archeology?

[@TeresaTrimm]

First aired February 17th, 2013.

[@rockbutcher]

As an old Infantryman, the name of that town makes me pucker a little bit. :) Dropshorts are decidedly uncool.

[@karenh2890]

Yay! Audio!!

[@kinggrub6604]

Bet the digger knows where it is he probably helped build it.. All props to that man! glad hes out working and doing something rather than just sitting around alot of older people dont get out and they seem much more depressed at home

[@adamsjerome1839]

Ian ( the elder) is the most brilliant swing shovel operator I have ever seen. He even looks happy when catching a snooze in his cab. When he is reincarnated he will be digging trenches on Mars.

[@davidmunro6939]

The geeophyz and those track shovel operators are magic when you only have three days.

[@kuglepen64]

I can hear! Praise be.

[@peterxyz3541]

I seen this type of marking on dirt & grass. In my area, it’s old covered roads. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 3 days to unearth ancient architecture...I need +10 days cause I’ll STOP & scrutinise every bit of broken pottery 🤣

[@hextasy000]

Seen requires a helper verb, such as "have." It is never correct to use "seen" without a helper verb. Ex: "I have seen this type of marking..."

[@sirridesalot6652]

at @34:18 I cringed when Tony just threw that piece of roof tile into the bucket with the pottery parts. It looked as if the tile broke when it landed in the container.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

thank you

[@BFKAnthony817]

6:38 Looks like Clint Eastwood driving an excavator!

[@getin3949]

You don't know Clint Eastwood's face very well do you? I have all of his movies and a huge book about him and this guy could MAYBE be his grand dad.

[@Semper_Iratus]

You fixed the sound 👍

[@maddog2771]

Was here September 2020

[@brooktanzania4201]

Hey you fixed it!

[@chasseurluc8486]

It is Baldrick!!! Where is Black Adder ?

[@Inko_Inko]

I can hear!

[@jorgeramirez5]

Yes!!! Tributes were paid to the Roman Empire. We have sound !!!! Thank you Rome !!!!!!! ✊🏾⚔️✊🏾⚔️✊🏾⚔️✊🏾⚔️👑👑💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵

[@LittleRedSlipper]

How do those things get buried so deeply? And also once you dig those up do you have to cover it over again?

[@techgirl1337]

I cant believe I discovered this show in 2021.

[@micklaycock71]

I was expecting the subtext to the title; "Tears it up and Plants Turnips".

[@londawarren8278]

Luv hearing "ooh"s and "Wow"s!

[@moethorpe998]

that's much better...

[@Destineddeath]

Aye that be Roman mates, the archaeology don't lie like the anthropology don't lie like real people never lie. Raksha for her own renaissance or whatever period team!!! The next future real celebrities generation... What a grand new world awaits you youngsters of Time Team!

[@nevillemignot1681]

Please on this dig can we have the laughing and lovable Phil, and not the other one?

[@MSEYQM]

Is the place called "DropShorts" ?

[@luthahvelken4653]

Stuart to the rescue, as usual

[@a-marieboudreaux3175]

Why only 3 days to excavate🤔

[@leokorn1629]

i would love to be an archaeologist.

[@Landrew0]

The 3 day limit seems arbitrary and added for drama, and inevitably jeopardizes the success of the dig.

[@MrLotrecht]

To be exact in the middle, between two roman towns means normally also a lot 🙂

[@TheNewPrometheus]

Raksha is such a babe 😍

[@Starfish2145]

Archaeology geeks. Let kids in a candy store LOL

[@suziperret468]

An enigma...I still think they missed an older structure .There is so much undiscovered human history...just waiting for archaeologist to excavate the time capsules of history. Humans have always been savvy, and we think we know it all...ha!

[@stevelaminack1516]

What is a "shire" which the UK seems to add to a lot of their town name?

[@edilveraguilar8655]

It's common for rural/middle England. It just means a town, or perhaps something to do with the county borders. That's was a really good question, by the way.👌 (The only reason I know about shires is because I watched Lord of the Rings ("the Shire") and I got curious too)☺️ Cheers! --Shannon Aguilar ❤️

[@tempsitch5632]

Way to break that pot, Matt !

[@robroy6804]

them beautiful coal fired power stations need more of them

[@jamesscott6917]

Is it a swanky villa or is it a farm? OR, is it a swanky farm?

[@dawngriffin3550]

❤️

[@mikehurst3245]

3 rocks equals a wall. If that's true there's millions of walls behind my house.

[@chrisphilhower6029]

Do they rebury everything that's dug up?

[@kkkkkkky5664]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@LindaCasey]

💖

[@nancymoore3338]

It's been my dream to meet the British redneck Phil... I'm disappointed when he's not featured

[@katerinakemp5701]

Lol uncle Phil can be a bit of a handful, but he has been the main field archeologist since the series first started when both he and Mick were both younguns. Also he is the only archeologist that has appeared on every episode, hes in his 70s now but he is still working on the Waterloo Site at Hugomont Farm.

[@red.5475]

Phil Harding has an Interesting accent. Does everyone from Oxford sound like that?

[@hopelewis5650]

He's not English.

[@michaellaber6574]

why only 3 days?

[@bcpyc]

Here comes the ASMR team.

[@wendywhite2642]

I'm sure I am only just beginning in my review of this series, but I wonder when are they going to bring in the drone? Why pay for a helicopter? Final observation, typical digs go for years! This is simply not enough time to do this site Justice. A good dig for someone else to pick up and carry on.