Entering the Saxon Hall: Time Team meets Anglo-Saxon expert Helena Hamerow

[@TimeTeamOfficial]

Thanks for watching - if you'd like to hear more expert insights and join Time Team behind the scenes, come and join us over on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TimeTeamOfficial

[@moxiebombshell]

Just a heads up, but this video is showing up with a warning (!?) about it being considered inappropriate by KZbin audiences (?!?). I literally had to find my remote and click 'agree' to watch it. I'm a huge TT fan from way back, and I just wanted you to know so you could address it with KZbin as it's obviously in error!

[@MrRikardJ]

Tim, I am glad that you brought up the similarities between Sutton Hoo and Vendel or Vals Garde. I think you need to look at the finds, it is not about gold in general but unique finds with a very specific artistic fingerprint. Here are the finds (in Swedish) look especially at the shield design sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Båtgravfältet_i_Vendel. Also Uppsala is also known for having King Björn's Mound, one of the most magnificent remains from the Nordic Bronze Age. It is Scandinavia's most gold-rich bronze age grave ever found. Thanks

[@z0rchain230]

more dig sites = more Time Team = more scientific discoveries = more joy for all of us!

[@jleechadwick]

I absolutely love Time Team, since I discovered it here on KZbin a little over a year ago. I live in the US and am mainly of English and Scottish ancestry. I have learned so much about the history of the UK watching this program, and I love History Hits as well, including the non-archeology shows about British history. I love the Anglo Saxon period the best. I have always loved history, and it was my major at university.

[@juliad5895]

Until last week, and a TT tweet flew by, I had no idea TT was back! Never joined Patreon- until yesterday. TT is worth it. Legends. Glad to support the return. 💞

[@TimeTeamOfficial]

Thanks for joining us Julia, good to have you on the team - and yes, we are back!

[@girlnorthof60]

Oh, what a treat to hear from Helena. I do hope to see more of her and have her dream site explored by Time Team. Thank you Tim, she is just a delight to listen to.

[@thomasbell7033]

I could listen to Dr. Hamerow for days.

[@rksnj6797]

Very interesting and enjoyable interview! I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath during the early 80's and the area sparked my interest in history. I wish I spent my time better though. Instead of spending time in the pubs around the base, I should've spent time in pubs around universities so I could meet archeology students to learn from and maybe lend them a hand at a dig or two!

[@liberte1334]

I am researching a house and land in south-east Kent, previously un-researched, where there was a saxon settlement. All the clues are there. I wish it were possible for TT to excavate there.

[@donnal.oglesby4806]

Think THIS would be a Great site to come to and do a great dig! How bout it Tim??

[@liberte1334]

We have documented ring ditches, high ground, water and a known nearby Iron Age settlement. Also reference to known AS settlement right there where the house and land is.

[@Spartan265]

@@liberte1334 Send them an email with all the details and evidence you have. Who knows maybe they will end up choosing to dig it.

[@mezellenjohnson2753]

That was so interesting, I find my imagination is rather gripped by the early centuries and what was called the dark ages. The lack of evidence in the land where there were buildings is something that I find intriguing, as if the cleaned it before they left! I remember the dig at Sutton Courtney and the excitement when it was realised just what had been found, I think Time Team started many people becoming interested in archeology and fed the needs of people like me who were already interested in the subject. Thank you Tim for feeding my imagination once again, and I would love to see something done in Dorchester that would be very exciting. Happy holidays to all, Mary-Ellen UK

[@AvaT42]

I totally agree Mary-Ellen. I watched Sutton Courtney the other day, talk about exciting!! The totally untouched field and all those buildings underneath!! What a wonderful dig for Time Team. I wondered why the site had not been excavated before, because the govt said no, knowing all the crop markings or because the owner of the acreage said no? Either way, was fascinating to watch. I wonder if archeologists were ever allowed back to dig some more?

[@mezellenjohnson2753]

@@AvaT42 I have wondered about that too, but I suppose money is allocated by what is already known about a site. Take care and stay safe please, God bless you Mary-Ellen

[@RolfStones]

Oh yeah I'd love an anglo saxon site. Only to see an overtly excited Helen will be worth it. But on a more serious note. I like it when there is little evidence. It's fascinating. Still a lot to be discovered.

[@AvaT42]

Terrific interview, one of the best. A very interesting lady.

[@Cmdtheartist]

Signing in from the North Fork of Long Island, NY. And whenever I find anything that looks like it has any age to it, I picture one of you saying "100 years old? Aww, adorable." Look forward to the next one.

[@steffikettler4356]

America has amazing history even if not all found through archaeology. But what amazing stories you may find in your family history not least including the migration to the US. And the amazing narrative history tradition of the native American people. I do love watching time team

[@AvaT42]

Haha. That was cute.

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

If you get a chance to walk a newly plowed field, in your area, you may find arrowheads thousands of years old.

[@Cmdtheartist]

@@steffikettler4356 I worked at a park in Suffolk County for years. We had teachers over all the time building wigwams and bark lodges, teaching ethnobotany, and doing flint knapping. One guy made the most beautiful projectile points out of colored glass using a deer antler knapping tool. Crazy. And we had quite a few original indigenous finds in our museum. But not a single. Roman. Coin. Infuriating.

[@Cmdtheartist]

@@JonFrumTheFirst I have a field behind my house that gets plowed every year, but all I've ever found is shards of 20th century china, nothing indigenous. Metal detectorists have combed over as well. Maybe I need to look closer. Thanks!

[@rsclark1948]

The Professor Is So Cool !!!! Lots Of Substance In Her Interview.Brilliant !!!!

[@RobBoudreau]

Definitely Dorchester on Thames should be on the list, and Prof. Hamerow part of the Team for it.

[@jvburnes]

Excellent interview. As a Time Team Patron I'd love to see Time Team dig the rest of Sutton Courtney!

[@martinpacker1616]

Dorchester-on-Thames would be a great dig - which I'll vote for as a Patreon supporter. Note: You also did Wittenham Clumps in one of the original series. So joining up with it and Sutton Courtenay to make a larger area would be a first for Time Team. You might even call it "adopting an area" - which would be a great theme.

[@11abrook]

I wonder if the demise for religious influence of saxon women like Hilda, had something to do with the council of Whitby and the take over by the Roman Church?

[@1972tommyc]

Excellent interview. TT needs to put Helena to work at her chosen site!

[@KirojaFluffy]

There already was a late 6th century boat burial found in the Netherlands in 2004, in the Solleveld area, south of The Hague.

[@davidbingaman4303]

Helena would make a great Abyss! Helena's warm passion and intellect is wonderful....

[@jackhogston6119]

I really, really hope you meant 'abbess.' Other than that, I can't disagree.

[@Anne5440_]

It would be wonderful for TT pursue any of Dr Hamerow's projects.

[@pamparselds1985]

Very interesting interview. Dorchester would be a wonderful subject for a Time Team . I'm really enjoying these Tea Times. Thanks.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

Interesting that the “Hild” mentioned is actually St Hilda of Whitby. Totally fascinating.

[@martinpacker1616]

I wonder if her college is St Hilda's, Oxford.

[@teresapaskell5459]

This music still sends shivers down my spine

[@k4young]

Loved the interview - definitely interested in a future Saxon dig on TT!

[@JEPATTERSON07]

The College of Experimental and interactive Archaeology? "The campus" is places like this Long House, and wherever a trowel might find hidden artifax. Let folks live in daub and wattle for a few days, once a week smelt ore and melt copper and hammer out an Otzi axe head. Or something like that. Use those experimental forges for authentic reproductions, filling in Time Team episodes with TTeam-crafted articles that can be reprised, like those primitive tools Otzi carried. Have a "primitive market place" with stores like "Uncle Phil's Flint Shop!". Yes, it sounds like a whole lot of FUN! Something the whole world is hungry for.

[@langtoun8235]

Absolutely fantastic interview, many thanks.

[@archangel807]

Very interesting....thanks...

[@JohnSpurrell]

It's wonderful to be transported back in time to the early days of the new Christian Religion replacing the old and the human body returning slowly into dust. We are only here for a very short time as well before a new Religion replaces ours.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Best wishes from the wirral, site of the great battle of Brunanburh/Bromborough 937AD,Wirral,namechecked albeit in Welsh in the medieval poem of sir Gawain and the green knight..

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you.

[@MagiciansApprentice1]

Dorchester is worth exploring / filming -- and link to the pilot episode.

[@AvaT42]

I agree Robert. Will be so interesting to go there.

[@drgrandma1]

Signing in from Portland, OR USA

[@cliffordfreeman7829]

Hello from New Jersey USA.

[@katsnow9256]

When the Saxons came in after the Legion's left Britain, why didn't they keep the infrastructure of the towns and *cities*? Why did everything fall apart as far as buildings, engineering, bathhouses, running water and so fourth? Asking because I don't know!

[@tamsinp7711]

Largely because they didn't have the stonemasons and engineers necessary to maintain them. When the Roman army (their big customers) left, the skilled tradesmen followed.

[@mezellenjohnson2753]

Hello from Brightlingsea Essex UK

[@drgrandma1]

Hello from Portland OR USA

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thank you so interesting.

[@spreston1996]

This was fabulous!

[@juliad5895]

Hello TT from Florida!

[@LilyoftheValeyrising]

Is that Bernard Cornwell speaking with Professor Helena?

[@bainfinch]

When building by people power, the limiting factor is the number of people. Building something of that size and complexity, the structure must go up in one go, which take a good number of people, easily redirected to begin the bulk of the wall and roofing enclosing, leaving a short period of time for the artisan to give it the finishing touches.

[@anthonycowley5019]

Go for it!

[@TermiteUSA]

Hello from Chesapeake Bay.

[@theastronomer5800]

Very interest9ing. I was looking at some Anglo-Saxon coins while listening to this, too bad they are so scarce and expensive :(

[@fractaljack210]

I would kill for a clean copy if Seahenge.

[@Fush1234]

Where’s the old time team

[@slave2damachine]

Some have died some are to old and some are busy doing their own projects

[@elizabethclark394]

Would love to have updates on the surviving originals so that we could follow their projects as well as TT digs, especially as we might be in their locations. I'm in the North Lorne area of Argyll and would love digs or research in the area, plus we have a vibrant local history and archaeology group which would be of interest....

[@ahbushnell1]

Do the South Western US

[@dinerouk]

Get your own Time team! If there is interest then you get the money. I know you have plenty if the will is there.

[@johncunningham7672]

Not the original time team.

[@TimeTeamOfficial]

Nope, it's an interview.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Some of the “original Time Team” has died, some have retired and other are persuing other projects. But it’s still the Time Team.

[@suziewheeler6530]

One thing I dont understand. ...please explain why angle saxon is so important....Britney was so much more sophisticated pre saxon pig farmers....the german influence isnt all that important...why isnt the welsh Scottish and Irish peoples more important than a bunch of illiterate pig farmers....there is thousands of years of prehistory there which is far more important

[@davidfreja7162]

No offence but if pre~Anglo Saxon history means so much to you go and find out about it instead of picking on people who find a particular part of this island’s history interesting/fascinating.

[@MrSimonw58]

Must have been s* in the old days

[@4376ED]

Sorry guys but you no where as good as the old Time Team. Too much talking and not enough showing.

[@elizabethclark394]

This is an interesting interview as an adjunct to the main programmes, it is for people who are interested in the whole and not just the dig. I find this fascinating and very informative about the whole culture, history, beliefs and the geographical integration with other settlements and people.