Back To Turkdean: Revisiting One Of Britain's Largest Roman Sites | Time Team

The Team return to the huge Roman villa at Turkdean in the Cotswolds that they originally discovered in 1998. This visit turns out to be even more rewarding than the first one!
Series 6, Episode 9.
#TimeTeam #Turkdean #RomanVilla
Time Team is a British TV series following specialists who dig deep to uncover as much as they can about Britain's archaeology and history.
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[@britters220]

I love how they keep their bloopers in. The guy who lost the coin is hilarious.

[@slowerpicker]

All of them could relate to the mishap, I suspect.

[@sobeit2842]

@@slowerpicker Indeed. Dropped a few items myself.

[@hallets1956]

That's what makes the show. REAL bloopers

[@haplessasshole9615]

Isn't he a hoot? Mark Corney is a guy who can laugh at himself. People like him are always a delight, aren't they?

[@southeastcoastalphotography]

I think things like this is what made Time Team such a long lasting classic.

[@jeffburnham6611]

Imagine if Time Team received a royal commission to excavate the entire site, over a period of months. What wondrous and historical objects they would find.

[@aserta]

Unfortunately, they all had jobs, that's why this is a 3 day dig. It's also why they got several permissions that other people in the branches would salivate at. 3 days is a guarantee that nothing would extend further. Surgical cuts = answers, and then they're out. Owners are more accepting of it, gov is more accepting of it, and so on.

[@nevillemignot1681]

It has been shown on TT shows over a long time, these needs to be finite period were these digs take place in, it sets all sorts of boundries, and makes these shows very watchable indeed.

[@Fox1nDen]

they are raising their own support now, maybe a suggestion to them would get this great project on deck.

[@southeastcoastalphotography]

@@Fox1nDenthat would be awesome but the Turkdean Villa has been made a scheduled ancient monument since these 2 episodes and I would assume it was Scheduled based on what TT found in the digs.

[@Cmcmillen77]

realizing this was filmed in 1998. a real ancient discovery in itself! love seeing young phil!

[@user6008]

The still functioning Roman water aqueduct is simply stunning. It was built long before America was founded, before the U.K. existed as a nation.

[@gabe1ist]

Long before england existed as a nation, before the Russian people existed, 1000 years before the peak of the Maya

[@wewenang5167]

@@gabe1ist the pyramid is older xD

[@Tawadeb]

2000 year guarratee lol

[@SusanPlunkett]

You're forgetting the native indian nations?

[@austinwilliams7919]

@@SusanPlunkett no no, they're not. Would've been better if they had said the US had been founded, but you still understood. Not to mention, that the Native American nations, outside of the Iroquois, would've been far too small to consider an actual Nation.

[@aurktman1106]

Seeing that functioning water canal is amazing! To know it still functions after 1700 years is absolutely fantastic!

[@mattjeffrey-uz8nd]

Love this show almost 30 years later.

[@00BillyTorontoBill]

@23:30 Drain inspectors come to inspect your roman spring.... Looks good . Right your clear for another 1800yrs with this lead sticker. Dont lose it.

[@glendamears3618]

Phil is so smart and practical 😊

[@McRambleOn]

Not only did the goddess fortuna allow them to excavate a field not destroyed by plows (seemingly, for once!), but it turned out to be one of the most impressive and well preserved Roman sites in all of Britain. Time team has taught us that other fields in England have received English heritage’s highest grade status due to dodgy things like map-makers/surveyors recording supposed locations solely based on townspeople’s rumors and finding things as little as a few brooches or flint flakes… so I hope this field got the protection it deserves.

[@Invictus13666]

Gross mid characterization of English heritage.

[@skivvy3565]

23:00 that truly is amazing. Engineering at its finest. And they were kind enough to cap the water so nobody would get wet socks a few centuries later

[@HannibalFan52]

I love the way Mick Aston gets so excited he keeps saying 'look...look...look...'

[@amandaloriananimals9065]

I loved how excited Mick was in the helo in the first dig. He is sincerely missed.

[@crustycurmudgeon2182]

Yes. Was initially confused when Mick disappeared in later episodes, and very sad to learn of his passing. Rest In Peace. Mick.

[@BirdWhisperer46]

Finding a conduit with running water is the most amazing thing I have seen on any Time Team. So old.

[@Invictus13666]

It’s a spring. Springs run. Ffs.

[@chronicawareness9986]

those underground culverts with running water blew my mind... like thats been running like that for alll this time? man its so cool...

[@RKHageman]

Yes, it’s wonderful! As long as the spring itself doesn’t go dry, it will go right on…

[@blkmgk16]

There is a place down the block from me they are always craning in green pipe our stuff doesn't even last a year let alone 1700

[@JamesF0790]

@@blkmgk16 I mean to be fair the roman pipe wasn't under pressure so there's that.

[@onnieduvall2565]

Second time at Turkdean was even better than the first time and even that was great.

[@highfive7689]

To think that the ancient roman water system was still working after a 1000 years is mind boggling. My towns pipes break at least every two to three years - shabby modern tech, lol.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

If the site dates back to year 2-300 then we’re talking about 17-1800 years.

[@joepangean6770]

Take a look at the Roman roads in Italy. They are still in fantastic shape after 2000 years, yet we can't seem to get them to last 5 years.

[@colinvannurden3090]

Right?! The same with their roads too...

[@johnv6806]

@@joepangean6770 roman roads had far less traffic with lighter loads. And some of them have pretty massive ruts from the wheels.

[@aserta]

Different types of water works. If you'd press the same kinds of pressures in that roman system, it would die in a jiffy. Now i'm not saying modern stuff shouldn't or couldn't be build better, but the costs involved with upscaling certain elements bite the whole array in the ass. Like for example, the humble water pipe main, made up from rolled steel sheets. It would require a monstrous machine to do the same kind of work with a thicker metal. The whole thing is a mess and on the one side the idiotic teachings of Bernard London bite us in the ass, along with all his greedy followers, but on the other there's not much more than can be done if you want something done. The truth of the matter is this, towns, cities, villages... they're all built wrong, and because of it, the systems that supply them are also going to suffer. The modern patch work of piping is a nightmare to manage and work with.

[@maamold]

That is absolutely amazing that the spring and water system survived 1600+ years.

[@rpowling]

That flowing water was so clear and fast! Incredible. Just amazing!

[@karphin1]

I love that they involved the school children with the cleaning of the pottery sherds!

[@greenhorn6582]

In Roman times this would have been a job for the slaves.

[@marciaspiegel5280]

Keep on trucking. You are wonderful to us far away as well as the locals. Raise a glass to the Romans!!!

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

It's a great way of getting kids enthusiastic about history & archaeology! As an antiquities-crazed kid and teenager, the opportunity of being involved in something like that would've been an absolute life highlight... none here locally though at the time sigh!

[@MossyMozart]

@@anna_in_aotearoa3166 - You are so right! And even if those children never go into archeology or the other sciences, they will have a fun memory and be advocates for the value of research and conservation throughout their lives.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

This site is amazing! Still functional after almost 2000 years!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

This would be an excellent one for the modern Time Team to return to. 3rd time’s the charm and all that. Do it in 2023, 25th anniversary of this dig. Can’t believe 1998 was 25 years ago, feeling like a bit of a Roman artifact myself.

[@margomoore4527]

The nineties were only yesterday, it seems.

[@wildbill6675]

I just started watching these shows about a month ago I really like them and Phil he's just crazy cool 😎

[@lyndaschnirl7973]

I love that the school children were in involved. Hands on study of history, Great!

[@shotatoriumi1297]

If there was ever a need for a time machine, this site may be it.

[@susanchapman7332]

Miss the artistic renditions of Victor! I always have a difficult time envisioning these Roman villas.

[@glendamears3618]

I like all the personal uniforms like Micks stripe jumper 😊❤ Phil's hat😊❤

[@daehawk9585]

The water culverts are amazing. To think they have been under there still working for nearly 2000 years. Imagine how many run all over that place.

[@glendamears3618]

I thought Mic would fall from the chopper being so excited 😮😊❤ love this dig😊❤

[@PontiacS.]

I'm glad Tony slowed down over the years in his old age. Watching him Run around frantically was a bit tiring. "Scraping the Dirt off of Dirt with little Knives" Lance (the detectorists)

[@peggyjones3282]

The thing that boggles my mind, is the idea that Rome in Britain lasted nearly 2x longer than the USA has existed so far. And it's a little blip in the history of the British isles. The scale of time and history is hard to really comprehend.

[@Ubique2927]

The NEW Town Hall in my town is older than the USA.

[@allysmith2284]

And that one day, they all just packed up and left! Lol

[@wewenang5167]

@@allysmith2284 that is what baffled me...because its not like the local britons didn't live like a Roman, they did all stuff that the Roman does and even built houses like them. But suddenly they stop doing all that after the Saxon came and start forgetting how to be civilized and stop bathing and start building wood and mud houses instead....no more central heating, bath, or any sophisticated civilize town. As if time stop and everyone that has been romanized move out also and left just their slaves who didn't know how to do all the stuff.

[@JulianneTure]

@wewenang5167, archaeological evidence indicates that the Britons didn’t “suddenly” forget Roman customs after the Romans left. It took several generations, and not always the same amount of time depending on which part of Britain is being explored.

[@magster6022]

Yes, well Rome in England wasn't trying to run as a democracy. It's a bit more fragile than military takeover. We're having some issues keeping THAT vehicle on the road here in the US these days. Here's hoping OUR next episode isn't Back To Nazis.

[@collimus]

Such a fantastic site and video. Recently there was a massive mosaic and villa discovered in England i believe the mosaic is 800 sq ft and was of the Iliad or odyssey not sure which one exactly but homeric for sure. So amazing the ages of time which we look at today. The Greek, the romans, egyptians all so innovative and powerful inspiring generations future and giving us something to remember abd discover about the past! Vale fellow history lovers!

[@bosse641]

So enjoyable, still after all these years. ...been watching the series since the beginning back in 94. Love it. Wish it never had been ended.

[@daehawk9585]

The sharpness and straightness of that wall with a perfect right turn is beautiful.

[@alienmozart9902]

They could do an entire series on this one area!

[@GlennosMetals]

Love this show ...RIP mick

[@jodyshepard9482]

The water i still flowing! How wonderful!

[@nickacelvn]

I just clicked on this one cos Phill was in the thumbnail. (His accent is a national treasure I'm a kiwi and for the last week iv been sounding like Phils neighbour) 15:36 love it This needs to be scrupulously recorded, cuts to a guy drawing a pencil picture by a broadcast quality high definition video camera lol.

[@MrVvulf]

I lived in Gloucestershire for 3 years in the 1970s. The west country accent really is a joy, so down to earth and free of pretensions.

[@timothyglynn8606]

One more thing I've never been to England and that really is my heart's desire to visit England Ireland and Scotland hopefully someday I will and I'll get to see some of the things that you guys did that would be fantastic cuz it is beautiful and fascinating thank you

[@johnhanson5943]

The British Isles are wonderful. Also in character. Europe generally offers so much. Very happy to have it on my doorstep.

[@bethbartlett5692]

@ 41:41 They act so calm when they lift the stone and uncover the water flowing so clear and unimpeded, like it was just covered in 1999, but I think this was ever so like stepping back into the actual Roman era, the movement giving a feeling that amounts to revealing a clock still running, or as Mill running, it was really neat even if a simple underground water source and a piece of stone. They has "maneuvered it, engineered it to function for their needs".

[@Invictus13666]

A clock still running? It’s a spring. They run. Ever seen a river?

[@timothyglynn8606]

My name is Tim and I am from the United States of America I've been watching your show for years but not until after your seasons have stopped but I loved it it was amazing show I mean I probably watched every episode 10 * I don't know I just find it so fascinating everybody was just fantastic and I hope someday you guys could come back I know some of the people are gone and moved on to other things but everybody was really really good at what they did and I've learned a lot I'm an older person but I really learned a lot from you guys just when you think you learned it all you don't know squat but I enjoy the show very much and I'm still watching them and I'll keep on watching them I watch him everyday or listen to him everyday and it's fascinating so thank you to everybody on the show and I mean everybody from the main stars to the camera people just to everybody I enjoyed it very much but the main thing is I learned a lot of things hope you guys really get this thank you

[@williamderekmay4778]

I am in total agreement, I'm from Canada and would love it if "the team" would make a journey "across the pond" to check out some of our sites in North America

[@StoriesbyIrish]

@@williamderekmay4778 I read somewhere that Tim Taylor (producer) did try running a similar series here in America, but it didn't last due to "lack of interest." Apparently, it wasn't "dramatic" enough for people watching, from what I gathered. I'd love to see Tim post any episodes of it on KZbin though, I haven't been able to find any.

[@tresawilkins7159]

@@StoriesbyIrish in the USA it's not really about what the majority of people prefer to watch, it's about what the media producers forecast what they can sell the most advertizing for. They often get it wrong, but they don't really care: they just move on to the next project.

[@MossyMozart]

@@tresawilkins7159 - The show appeared on PBS, therefore, no advertisements.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

Looking at those incredibly long rock walls makes me think that THAT'S where the Roman wall remains went!

[@rubywarrior1]

it says, Hello Fil.. Keep on Diggin

[@anzelikat6955]

actually amazing documentary when you are learning history and engineering of the ancient times... I like it very much... :-)

[@nebelwerfer199]

This show was such bliss.

[@thehelluvaparty563]

What a remarkable series. Ageless, fresh, recycled history that never gets old.

[@Fush1234]

What golden TV. Fabulous. They should be very proud.

[@jameswebb4593]

It's turned blue , it's a miracle . Brilliant .

[@scottinWV]

Watched both parts. Excellent videos!

[@susanjane4784]

Really enjoyed watching this and the previous Turkdean episodes. Being able to put together much about a site and how people lived instead of the all too often bits, pieces, and guesses.

[@-TheRealChris]

This is just excellent, please keep uploading more of these early episodes, really interesting and enjoyable!

[@jodyshepard9482]

Again! The water is still flowing! How very, very wonderful! This so warms my heart.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

The still running water cause makes this my favourite Time team video.

[@KT-bg7hf]

I'm from the U.S. and at first glance thought the title read "turducken." I enjoyed the video nonetheless. 😂

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Old school recipe just forgot to show how they made it

[@MossyMozart]

PS: I absolutely LOVE the historic sidebars and experimental archeology projects. They really bring the digs to life and transform the ancients into real people. Making a house alter was a brilliant idea. (Perhaps the author left out a step or an ingredient in the blue pigment recipe. There could have been other minerals - or missing minerals - in the experiment that effected the color and about which the author was unaware. Perhaps the raw balls were overheated as the author did not include a temperature or a way to tell the temperature - "roast until the vessel turns bright red" or the like. Making pigments is a real chemistry, after all, and must follow the rules of chemistry.)

[@johnperry5102]

very interesting, educational, and entertaining what a grand show you all have, just marvelous

[@swedishpowerm9355]

oh great! Sb's asked for the 2 episode on Turkdean and here it is! What a great channel !

[@stephengantt9465]

I hope Time Team got the Roman Villa at Turkdean in the Cotswolds Site "Scheduled". That 1700 year old "Mini" Underground Aquaduct still functioning is enough to Have the Site Preserved, as a "Historical Landmark". Let alone All the Other Fines at the Site.

[@blackbird5634]

Whenever I see Phil's image I know I'm in for a lot of exposition with tons of "EEE, Oi, and ER'' sounds! It's anyone's guess as to what he's saying, but by gosh it's fun to listen!!😂

[@JacobafJelling]

THANK YOU. Do keep them coming. Could we get a Special? Maybe start from the first. Such a nice way to watch them, in order and in HD. Greetings from Denmark, and once again Thank you. Lovely show

[@mikeinthewoods2193]

Love the fact that the water system is Still working.☺️

[@dakotashea3561]

Perfect timing!

[@jehans.5997]

Thanks so much for the upload Time Team. :)

[@rubyord9774]

How cool to have a Roman villa on your land.

[@annazaman9657]

I've watched this episode a hundred times but I can still watch it again

[@rahowherox1177]

... and 1400 ads ...

[@annazaman9657]

@@rahowherox1177 I only had one

[@St3veWK]

Why do you like it so much?

[@rev.tamiGM]

I really enjoy your history digs and Tim found some great finds with the metal detector.

[@patrickwentz8413]

Probably my favorite episode along with earlier episode at this site.

[@Tawadeb]

This site at 400 years old is twice as old as my nation of New Zealand Mind boggling

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

There have been people in New Zealand for almost 1000 years.

[@Tawadeb]

@@AnnaAnna-uc2ff Yes actually 5 different peoples for 3000 years. Maori since 1300AD but loose tribes.

[@bethbartlett5692]

The Spring takes center stage for me. Love it!

[@LintonHerbert]

The libation turned blue. All that effort to get blue for naught. And then the libation turned blue unexpectedly. That is the most magical thing I have seen in my life.

[@SK83RJOSH]

Pretty sure they just put the tracer dye in there champ.

[@seanpaula8924]

Great episode. How young phil looks.

[@lauramatilda3279]

"As Chris BBQs the balls..." I spat coffee😂

[@noraelsaiadarola1826]

Fantastic I love yours vídeos. From Buenos Aires Argentina. All yours films are amazing. 👏👏👏👏💖💖💖🥰🥰🥰

[@doncarmack2358]

You guys are great, awesome’ 😎

[@elizabethwood644]

Loved it! Keep it up, things change so quickly. Don't miss those little gems in life x

[@thomasandersen2534]

So glad I found this amazing show !

[@blaggercoyote]

I have yet to hear any reference to Blacksmithing on Time Team. Did people not shoe their horses even though they would have spent a lot of time walking on stone built roads?

[@JulianneTure]

In season 13 they did an excavation at Alfoldean in Sussex that involved recreating a set of Roman horseshoes.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

They have been saying the horse shoe was way later

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Totally on point. The Romans left local government to local leaders. They know the region and people and customs. And as long as they don't work on rebellion and keep paying roman taxes, they can pretty much run the province. Only when they make trouble does the legion come in and the empire puts a roman governor in place. And the romans adopting leg garments and closed shoes seems on point as well. they work much better in the colder climate. Just how they made some beer despite usually seeing it as disgusting brew of barbarians and preferring wine themselves.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Imagine wine as it is today: "The rich drink wine "

[@earendel43]

It would be great if the team could have an episode explaining the archeology process. What are the steps they take in every dig. what are the exceptions for special sites.

[@MossyMozart]

@Colin Decker - And why do they never screen the soils they dig away?

[@Invictus13666]

@@MossyMozart they do screen. Apparently you’re horrifically non-observant.

[@bettyir4302]

Poor Phil with his back back and knees. My back and knees hurt just watching them hunched over in every episode. Imagining the broaches being broken by a girl who was angry with a suitor.

[@MossyMozart]

@betty ir - Or by a relative whose dear one had just died.

[@nancytimmer9026]

The blue pigment is very similar to Egyptian blue. Which is made with copper, sand, sodium carbonite, and ashes, heated until it formed blue crystals. The Romans called ceruleum (hard k)

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Thought they should have put in the fire bottom to limit oxygen myself, don't know never done it

[@margomoore4527]

Another recipe for blue pigment is simply ground up lapis lazuli stone. It’s common in Pakistan, but I know the ancient Egyptians used it, along with ground malachite, for eye makeup. Later, it became popular to paint ceilings blue with stars interposed to represent the night sky.

[@Blackadder75]

Imagine being the roman stonemason who build that water canal, would he ever imagine that his work was still functioning 1700 years later......

[@joshschneider9766]

If he was a slave I doubt it. Not sure how the smiled laborers got on in terms of freedom in Roman times.

[@tygrahof9268]

Still flowing freely. That would be a real value to any property owner even to this day! Closest you'll ever get to something still working after 2 centuries.

[@Germanicus-]

@@joshschneider9766 Romans didn't leave building projects to slaves. If that was the case the Empire would have never went broke.

[@santiagoarestegui]

Rome still has its own Roman water works in use.

[@chriszag702]

@@Germanicus- what are you talking about? rome went broke because of corruption in politics.

[@numerian4516]

I felt every ache for and w Phil as he knelt down in the trench.

[@cwulfe1]

I just watched the first episode of this site just a few days ago. Bravo for finding the follow up episode so that I can see further developments.

[@BrightestBlessings7899]

That was Brilliant! Brightest Blessings

[@lauramatilda3279]

My favourite episode! My family is so sick of hearing about the running water 😂

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks so much for posting

[@pattiewatkins1809]

Oh boy let's go This sooo great. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@coloringwithd]

How exciting to go back there and do more excavating. The Team discovered so many more items and the water source. How long would it have taken for the large villa to be built? Thank you for sharing. :-)

[@arrismalo9953]

About the wet weather springs , there is always water in them, it takes rain to help the water flow out.

[@jansenart0]

The origin of TEMPUS GREX. I love this one.

[@RKHageman]

Me, too!!

[@joystickmusic]

That water pipe is just fantastic!

[@PtolemyJones]

Is it Phil who has an accent like Mr. Moleturd? I love that sound, I wonder where it is from.

[@johnhanson5943]

SW UK (Eng).

[@LegionPrime]

I can't hear Phil speak without thinking of Mr. Moleturd!

[@katerinakemp5701]

Wiltshire now he resides in Salisbury.

[@frenchjr25]

I watch these great episodes and wish they had more than 3 days.

[@biologychic7292]

13:22 *looks at my back and knee braces* 🤔 I think I’m a Phil Harding cosplayer.

[@martineastburn3679]

You can use RIT dye for clothing color and put some powder in the upper holes - maybe more than one color - and try to spot the color below. A white towel dragging in the hole will catch some dye. Martin

[@kevinmccarthy8746]

The painting Phil is doing is quite good for the considering the occasion.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

The brickwork looks fine enough to build a new building on top of the remains.

[@justgonnagetbetter1037]

No, no, no FIL is perfectly sufficient. Too right Phil, too right

[@andrewpenwright2266]

awesome

[@davidcipriano358]

As a Geophysical surveyor, I would love to know what they meant by "Geophysics." I do Gravity and Magnetics, the map doesn't look like either. EDIT: I should have watched longer, I have never seen a magnetometer like that one.

[@MooPotPie]

This was originally aired in 1999.

[@kaptainkaos1202]

I realize you posted a year ago but I wanted to reply. Geophysics encompasses magnetic and gravity surveys. This video was made almost 25 years ago so unless you’re an older surveyor you wouldn’t recognize the older instruments we used. I started my career in Code 7420 Geophysics at the Naval Research Laboratory doing gravity and magnetic flight surveys around the world.

[@christinaclifton9257]

Im just wondering do they keep these items in the stream or do they throw them back

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Oops didn't mean to throw that one let me go retrieve that!!😮!@