The Mystery Of The Roman Masterpieces Buried Beneath Someone's Garden | Time Team | Odyssey

Time Team are in Cumbria investigating the incredible Samian pottery found beneath a Time Team fan's back garden. But can Tony Robinson and the team answer why the Romans were there?
Odyssey is your journey into the world of Ancient History; from the dawn of Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. We'll be bringing you only the best documentaries that journey into the mysteries and ruins of worlds long lost.
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[@uptoolate2793]

The neighbor doesn't want his "garden" dug up... camera pans to a boring lawn...if time team came to my neighbors yard, I'd be like hell yes! Dig baby dig!

[@Fe26man]

Pretty sure that was intentional, and they planned that intentional manipulation, for comments like this. I am guessing that we never actually got the whole story- from the perspective of that neighbor.

[@ludovica1914]

I definitely echo your sentiment, but if it makes more sense don't forget that in the UK generally all yards are called the garden regardless of if it's all turf. So they didn't mean anything grandiose by it.

[@ludovica1914]

@@Fe26man This was recorded in the late 90s/early 2000s. They didn't plan any manipulation lol none of these people could have foreseen the availability of this show many years later. The neighbor didn't want dozens of people trampling through his property and digging up gods-only-know how much of his yard. It's not complicated.

[@juliekirila4149]

Maybe the neighbor has something to hide!?!

[@jimc12]

Maybe the neighbor didn't want to take a chance of loosing some of his property to a potential scheduling by the historical society.

[@justgonnagetbetter1037]

"I'm the first person to look into this mirror for 2000 years", the nice lady that just spent hours and hours cleaning it, "what does that make me?".

[@genicabre]

Thought exactly the same lol

[@terriatwell4041]

I so wanted her to respond "No, the second."

[@fiiredark]

Every episode of Time Team is so mysteriously magnetic to me. I always think I’ll get bored eventually, yet I never do. What a gift to the world this group has been!

[@lyrand6408]

I agree. And I think I know why, and the answer is quite very simple and relatable. Because they were a family among each others, treated each others as such, and in turn we perceived them as members of our own family as well, consciously so or not; I think most of us did. I myself discovered the existence of this series and the amazing group of Time Team among their various collaborators over the seasons only recently (barely 3 years ago). Had I known of this show back when I was in high school I would have religiously watched it when it was fresh at the time, since archaeology was always fascinating to me (as it is for me the best possible way we have to "travel back in time", outside of watching old 80 to 100+ years old black and white footage of long-gone periods of human history).

[@josi4251]

If I were so lucky to live in Britain (Grandpa was from Ilkeston, Derby), I would forever be digging in the yard! And perhaps asking farmers if I might dig in their fields. I grew up digging arrowheads and native beads on what we're sure was a former burial mound. Not at all uncommon here in my part of Illinois, USA. It's wonderful that the Time Team are so keen to include children and explain what they're doing/finding. Future archaeologists, I'd imagine!

[@m3tros95]

From my point of view it's insane how people around the world can pretend play archeologists. In Italy anything older than 100 years belongs to the state, if you're found to be in possession of archaeological finds you get fined and may get arrested. If they find archeology on your property, the department of fine arts kicks you out and starts digging; if they find something remarkable you can say byebye to your property.

[@benediktmorak4409]

Victor, what an artist he was. not only with the pencil and watercolors. as we can see here also with clay... and in one episode i was watching him using the computer - pencil - like it was one of his own utensils.!

[@GiGiGoesShopping]

The potter chap isn't Victor who I agree is an inspired Artist. Gilbert is the Potter's name. Victor joins in at approx 46:27 time stamp.

[@Kholdaimon]

@@GiGiGoesShopping You can see him at the start making the mold used on the clay.

[@ianscott9396]

He has an amazing life story too!

[@benediktmorak4409]

@@Kholdaimon correct.and that is what i also wanted to say.

[@foreverraining1522]

Very impressed by the knowledge of that 1 guy who knows the dates, the value of money, that he was holding a mirror. Amazing 👏

[@mariehillard1742]

My goodness wasn't everybody youthful in this series. When was this made? Thoroughly enjoyable.

[@RKHageman]

It’s season 6, so… 2000, presumably.

[@tsvandyke]

43:26 ... ( host) " I'm the 1st person to look in this mrror in 3,000 years." ( mirror cleaner ) " what about me ? - I'vee been cleaning it the past 16 hours & you want to get ALL of the credit ?"

[@hannahbrown2728]

One of my favorite things about when they visit someone's house, is watching the residents have different levels of comfort around the cameras and seeing their own work they've done in regards to the digs. This stands out as one of my favorites, this guy has done all of the due diligence. An excellent record of his finds, already spoke to the neighbor about his "garden". I can just imagine him going over some cue cards "OK if Tony asks this I'll say..."

[@patrickwentz8413]

Whelp the new episodes of time team need to come back to this site writ large.

[@mclarenscca]

While these discoveries aren't monumental, I find this series extremely interesting! All you can do, is keep digging! I absolutely love the determination of the Time Team crew. Just wish we could get cool shows like this in the US!

[@larryzigler6812]

Indeed !!!!! Why not with so many Roman sites about in the States.

[@athena5573]

Nah americans need their history channel docudramas about bigfoot

[@mclarenscca]

@@athena5573 it's ridiculous, isn't it?! I don't even bother anymore! Timelines has the best content ever!

[@mclarenscca]

@@larryzigler6812 that's a bit one sided, isn't it? Who really knows the origins of native Americans?! I'd sure love to know more than speculation! 😉

[@larryzigler6812]

@@mclarenscca A 3 day Native American dig !!!!!!! GET REAL !!!!!!! THINK !!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@NavyCombatCorpsman]

I love this series. I haven’t missed one yet.

[@v.britton4445]

So interesting ! Not just here for the rainbow sweaters.

[@SheCreatesStuff2]

I love the English term, "jumper", although it confuses me, at times. LOL

[@maryseman7019]

I LOVE Mick's sweater!

[@michelleg7]

The potterer did such a beautiful job on that bowl

[@c.f.3818]

My grandmother's family was from Cumbria, it's fascinating to see this dig. The area is lovely.

[@bendjohans3863]

its sometimes a bit like watching road construction....phil is working and 5 people watching him working :D:D:D

[@lizid5]

New Time Team need to come back to the field above the river and keep digging!

[@dasja9966]

Carenza to the lady who just spent 3 days cleaning a roman mirror: I'm the first person to look into this mirror in 2000 years. Me: i think the cleaning lady was first. (I'm not posh enough to not see the cleaning lady as a person.)

[@francesworcester3599]

My thoughts exactly

[@dann5268]

Ok!Ok! Be KIND !!! Carenzen is a lovely, hard working person! Speaking on camera isn't easy! Sitting at home on the sofa makes it easy to judge........

[@dasja9966]

@@dann5268 fair enough. I should not have judged her that harsh. I usualy realy like carenza and her work. Just thought she worded that poorly, more so because the 'cleaning lady' (don't know the proper english word for an art restoring person) sat right beside her. Just thought it was a little awkward.

[@lilirehak5569]

Loved the Samian bowl recreation. And finding this in your garden....

[@carolinam4301]

OMG loved the family and Phil finding the toys they buried! So cute!

[@justme.1st]

I so love this time team crew, so many characters 💕

[@melissacoulter3996]

Wow… these really old ones show just how long Mic had those sweaters!! Lol

[@cita_m]

That man had a thing for horizontal lines for sure!

[@georgelong9957]

Victor(R I P) what a talented artist ,everything he touches is amazing.

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

when you look at the type of work the artists, such as Victor and the potter, were able to do, sometimes it's much more impressive than the archeologists. Of course, the guy on his bicycle peddling around tying parts together is fun to watch. How the environment is constantly changing, rivers shifting courses, etc. It can be rather sad to watch and know how many are no longer with us. Of course, Phil (GOD love his soul) never seems to change. I can honestly say the updated version of the show is missing this special cammaderie, and the special banter that put the original at the head the class.

[@yrissanna]

Don´t forget, please : the archaeologists dug and dated the sherd, and reconstructed the whole shape of this bowl from this sherd. Victor draw it and the potter made it. The one could never do without the other. Everybody is impressive in his profession.

[@philroberts7238]

@@taylorfusher2997 Mainly because the Romans spoke Latin and the Greeks spoke Greek. Why do we say Hercules and the French say Hércule? Throughout history, some things change and some things stay the same for a long time.

[@philroberts7238]

I think some people tend to be rather harsh in their judgement about the updated show. Cameraderie and banter take time to develop within any group of people. Give them time and no doubt the jokiness will develop. Meanwhile enjoy the new iteration of the show for what it is. After all, first and foremost it is a show about archaeology, not a sitcom.

[@philroberts7238]

Actually of course, they write it as Hercule and have no need of the accent.

[@dann5268]

Difficult To recreate the chemistry of such good friendships. Also Tony's accent is easy to understand and his informal manner easy to follow. The wording of the new commerntator uses and tone of his voice is much harder to follow. Of course it isn't the guy's fault he is new, lacking the rapor Tony had.

[@jaimedavis439]

"have you had any joy"I like that

[@damianousley8833]

At 2:00 the neighbour was possibly worried about extensive deep excavations next to a retaining wall and fence which has additional support beams. Any future damage by disturbing the ground could be expensive to remediate.

[@doitatit]

Got to be one of the very best Time Team digs! Thank you for keeping the Flame of Knowledge a live. Stay curious, no matter we’re you live!

[@lecolintube]

“What on earth are the Roman’s doing in my back garden” 0:43 So python-esc 😉

[@karencross1964]

I hope your potter left his finger print somewhere on that bowl.

[@leslyeglover3506]

Don't know who writes the titles for youtube vids, but "buried" in this title should have only 1 'r'.

[@silva7493]

They fired the replica bowl the man made, and he gave it some kind of glaze. It may or may not be a ceramic glaze, I don't know. it was fairly glossy, It looked SO beautiful and elegant. It appeared it had been all properly finished. I couldn't say if it was ceramic or some other kind of glaze, it was just perfectly finished and looked like the ancient pieces probably did several hundred years ago when it was brand new. In case anyone missed it they showed the completed Roman replica bowl in the lower left hand corner of the screen while they rolled the credits over it the last few seconds. I'm lucky I didn't miss it, I've usually stopped watching by the time the credits roll.

[@wewenang5167]

samian ware does not have glaze, but it supposed to have terra sigilata and burnishing, that is why its shiny. Terra sigilata is a type of a very thin clay slip.

[@silva7493]

@@wewenang5167 Fantastic. Thank you!!

[@sirdigs-a-lot3889]

The women who was cleaning the piece of Roman glass had the pleasure to be the first. Always remember that Carenza.

[@lechatel]

I live next to a country track (after our cottage it isn't surfaced.) We occasionaly find Roman bits and bobs in the garden....and when we recently put a couple of plants in to fill a gap in the hedge by the lane we dug up some Samian ware.

[@newwavepop]

perhaps its a strange thing to take away from it but whenever i watch one of these Time Teams episodes where they are in some one backyard or garden all i can ever think about is how envious i am of the peoples yards. i am one hundred percent a Fall person and also a bit of a Goth, i live in the American South and in the summer it is an absolute blazing hellscape and the weeds and vegetation are absolutely uncontrollable. and the bugs! i hope my ancestors found what they were looking for in the New World, all i can ever think is how i wish i could go back.

[@deborahparham3783]

Delta is ready when you are Honey. Go for it.

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@spidermight8054]

Here in the states, that existing house would be historic.

[@hollyhumbyrd3362]

Yes...we can only sigh and WISH we could find ancient goodies in our back yards!

[@spidermight8054]

@@hollyhumbyrd3362 A shame I says! And I’ll be arrested for digging up arrowheads, etc. from where I live! No lie!

[@hollyhumbyrd3362]

@@spidermight8054 You're probably right! You could be charged with Cultural Theft/Appropriation. A very serious crime indeed, right up there with J-walking.

[@HungryHillSarah]

@@hollyhumbyrd3362 Thank you for the classic white stance on everyone else's rights. Shaking my damned head.

[@spidermight8054]

For such a physically small country with a relatively large population, there sure is a lot of open ground/pastures.

[@AsAMonkeyInAPinata]

One minute I’m wondering why someone had to slap together a wooden radar holder, the next: “This may look like a towel rack but it’s a state of the art radar system imported from Sweden.” … 😂

[@andreachilton1058]

Hi blessings from New Zealand 11pm Saturday night

[@augusta8901]

Always amazed when the neighbors think their grass is more important. Imagine watching out your window as a whole crew of every kind of expert comes in at a huge cost, and not wanting to take advantage of it....

[@coraclements4562]

I would not want my yard dug up, my luck theywould find something important and loose the use of my property, governments tend to do that

[@jesterboykins2899]

Was so relieved when Tony finally cut his hair. lol. He held out as long as he could didn’t he?

[@janmitchell641]

Fabulous!

[@RoseCarroll-pk6mt]

Thank you 🎉

[@2012escapee1]

Maybe they had a Sabianware pottery shop there.

[@Nicolesid1]

I love clicking on these an never knowing which Tony we will get.😅

[@DipityS]

I love the idea that their three days here allows for an expanded understanding of the times - where was the populations building up - why? Just a fort or did it get to the point where that large public building was in the budget - there's such a difference in the idea of the two. I also love to watch these experts do their thing - here's a bit of smashed up pottery covered in mud and they know the dates and the what of it - here's a barely recognisable metal round - oh this is Trajan and its from such and such date - it's always such a pleasure to watch 😊

[@benediktmorak4409]

that - local pottery factory - why can't it be named? after all, from the looks of it, they helpüed with the kiln. and for sure did not charge for it? or is there no - advertising - allowed?

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

.Thank you.

[@narellefurness6133]

So sorry to hear that your leaving the Chateau, hopefully everything works out in the UK for you all ❤❤

[@debbralehrman5957]

Lovely

[@douglasruss2889]

Bravo

[@jesterday2222]

Europe (44 countries) has an immensly rich history and culture of thousands of years, we could dig forever really. The USA has Native Americans and dinosaurs. Both absolutely great but you can see why time team USA would have trouble finding stuff while here in Europe, we all literally live atop our history ♥ I could dig in my own little garden right now and probably find something.

[@leandabee]

Can someone tell me what accent Phil has eg, what part of England is he from? I love that accent 😍 🇦🇺

[@harbourdogNL]

Somerset.

[@philroberts7238]

@@harbourdogNL No, it's Wiltshire I believe.

[@leandabee]

@@philroberts7238 thank you 👍

[@leandabee]

@@harbourdogNL thank you 👍

[@leandabee]

So I just googled, and Phil was born in Oxford and raised in Wiltshire. 🤗🙋🏼‍♀️

[@StevieWonders2020]

Holy moly----really, who know WHAT is buried just a few feet under the surface of brittain!!!! Wow

[@lupodimontenero661]

🙂you are a team of expert archaeologists and equipped with beautiful equipment (I envy that geo-radar ^^) so, don't say Samian, the right term is terra sigillata , ceramic (or vases) coral. I was born and live in Arezzo where this ceramic was born.

[@SheCreatesStuff2]

Samian is an English term for terra sigillata, often referred to by English-speaking archaeologists as samian ware."

[@annarboriter]

The helicopter dates this episode as part of the predrone era

[@dylonaustin6324]

with the amount of pottery fragments collected by now, the romans surely must have been the clumsiest empire in history!

[@mfleece99]

While I always leave interpretation to the experts here, As a degreed person in Architectural field, I would have to disagree about the cornice piece. I do agree with the first interpretation in that it really was a gutter. This should have been proven by the last comment by Tony pointing out what was interpreted as the exposed overhang portion where the roof would have covered the rest. The groove Tony pointed out, that was worn off the middle of the step. It is what is still used today on overhanging masonry or wood to prevent water from running back toward the wall, acting as a drip edge. So, A gutter, mounted on the top of the wall would not extend far from the wall and would need the drip cut. Whether they had that technology or design back then, I do not know. But that would be clear to me the step was once a gutter.

[@jessicae.s.340]

Really good tv👍

[@rcnb4903]

If someone came and told me I have ROMAN house under my back yrs I’d say dig dig dig and let me help.

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

I think it's cute what they think are "mountains" those are hills Tony....lol

[@wtxrailfan]

His house has moss growing on the roof. Reminds me of the guy who finds the meteorite in the movie "Creepshow" and he gets "meteor sh*t" on his hands and this weird green stuff starts growing on everything. 😂

[@naui_diver9290]

Any thoughts on time team?

[@azynkron]

Oh.. I had almost forgotten about that one.

[@wtxrailfan]

@@naui_diver9290 Yeah. 🤔

[@Blessings.429]

While watching I keep wanting to say that there is an ARCH in the retaining wall….right where Phil’s wheelbarrow is concealing it.

[@hansc8433]

Ah, those oversized fleece jackets in horrible colours. I had a few myself :-)

[@christenefaragher8821]

Try ginger kisses. L&P, dip,pineapple chunks are my faves

[@benhendricks7228]

Number of hand trowels Phill has broken???

[@uptoolate2793]

Yes.

[@sueouzounis9439]

Loved this show. Have seen a bit of the new shows, but it lacks the enthusiasm of the original.

[@rubynibs]

Someone was sharp eyed to have seen the bird on that bit of pottery. It looked like any old broken bit of terracotta flower pot. I wonder if it was a child who spotted the bird.

[@jameswebb4593]

Just somebody with more intelligence then you.

[@effen_aey_man]

It was the first thing I noticed and I'm not a child

[@larryzigler6812]

@@effen_aey_man You act like one.

[@itzel1735]

@@effen_aey_man I😂

[@HristiyanRusev]

I remember a few years ago some friends were digging in their yard to install a septic tank and the excavator chopped off the legs of a skeleton 😆 sad that they just tossed them along witht he rest of the dirt and never bothered to search for the rest of the poor fellow😂 This happened in northeastern Bulgaria where there were ancient cave dwellings and a bit further down south was where one of the oldest gold burials in the world was found...

[@christineelsbury5479]

it looks like artesian well

[@LauraCourtneyette]

There’s a typo in your title - “burried” should be “buried”

[@noraajagger4239]

24:24 smart maidens are the best

[@SS-wu5du]

38:23 showes a retainin wall . did any one notine the nice cut stone arch? has rubble stone above it.

[@RobertWatt-qx2cz]

No matter what they call it ,it grave robbery, just because its a hundred years old dont mean you can dig it up. Its a grave respect it.

[@SheCreatesStuff2]

I can’t help but wonder where are Ray, Helen, and the kids today? I wonder if any of the children carried on with archaeology.

[@Mimzie-Arizona]

Join pathoen

[@SheCreatesStuff2]

@@Mimzie-Arizona did you mean Patreon? I have some time ago. Thanks, but I haven't seen anything on this family.

[@RKHageman]

They meant I think, the series has been rebooted and are actively working digs as we speak.

[@annemckeon6532]

Anyone know what year this episode was made please?

[@christerfallenbrink4703]

1999

[@brega6286]

Thumbnail looked like they found an ancient popcorn popper.

[@ginmar8134]

Oh, just _listen_ to this guy. "And they found this piece of Roman pottery..." As one does, you know. Casually. "Lah di da, "Roman pottery is _so_ boring." Sheesh, if i find a forty-year-old Pepsi cap on my yard, it feels like finding King Tut.

[@gotz2grind]

How come always 3 days as opposed to a week or a month? National law or permit limit?

[@johncarmon9528]

This show is a weekend gig for them most of them have regular jobs in different cities and universities around the country so they put them together based on time off from other jobs especially in the early episodes and it just kinda stuck that way as it went along over the years

[@RKHageman]

Also, Mick Aston designed the program based on the three-days concept.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Tony has lots of brown hair on this. Must be really old episode

[@993ti]

21:50 "the machine can't go deeper". Well, make a slope so it can go in there and continue to dig deeper? It's not rocket science.....

[@larryzigler6812]

Inane

[@gabrieldossantos9982]

Undoubtedly the English people have Roman blood

[@larryzigler6812]

Some, must remember that most the Romans there were not ethnic Romans

[@harbourdogNL]

Undoubtedly the Italian people have African blood.

[@deborahparham3783]

Not Phil. They did a DNA test on him. He is pure Celt.

[@theostickle2604]

I would give you a thumbs up but KZbin won't let me the button isn't working.

[@chrisbassett8996]

there are alot of other people working on this stuff and we don't get to know who they are.

[@christineelsbury5479]

did he say behind the wall of Haydon

[@grovermartin6874]

I think he said "behind the wall of Hadrian," maybe.

[@robertbowers9856]

"The Fall of the Roman Empire" was due to bankruptcy do to the loss of so many coins in Britain!

[@kateorwell7203]

Those significant foundations could also be a huge villa. It's not necessarily a temple.

[@ricci4878]

I prefer this group they have a great relationship the other group is a bir stiff i think

[@denisebowker9753]

I am so disappointed by this news I’m English but live in Australia I came to London this year for a 2 day Lark it cost me a weeks wage to go with somebody who could cover me with their permit in 2023 I plan to come back to do a full week ,but my plans are in ruins if I carn’t get my own permit . I’m very responsible I’d love to find anything significant enough to report to the FLO we are not all out to cash in I’m just in it for the history not profit to come for a week under somebody else’s permit would cost me a fortune ☹️

[@alicethompson1385]

The guys are lucky to find Roman stuff, the only thing you find in my backyard is a shite tip!!!🙄

[@Sk8Betty.]

Rad

[@cruisepaige]

Burried?

[@neiledwards5100]

This must be very old tony has hair

[@stevenearlsmith2595]

Someone on The Time Team, please tell me, "why only 3 days"?

[@cathybaggott2873]

This is a TV show and these are academics, many with university jobs. This is exploratory archeology. When the filming stops, the site is restored and extensive reports are prepared. Sometimes these reports lead to financing for a full archeological dig, which often takes years. If not, the local archeological society, and the larger academic community, have maps, reports and finds that enhance their knowledge and may influence future site planning.

[@stevenearlsmith2595]

@@cathybaggott2873I àsked The Time Team for an explanation. How are you related to The Time Team?

[@RKHageman]

The members of the Team- those who are still with us- don’t wade through YT comments on episodes they made 20+ years ago, eh.

[@johnclifford544]

Why the 3 day time limit? That seems illogical. Careful archaeology takes time.

[@ludovica1914]

Money. It takes A LOT of people to make this happen both for the show and the dig. Funding came from the network. Without the limit and the show, many of these sites would never have been dug to any great extent; least of all analyzed to such a degree.

[@carolinegooder7091]

All of the archaeology people in the show have jobs/careers during the week, like at universities. So they only work on the show for three days at a time.

[@daveparnell3886]

If they were fans of the show why did they only give you 3 days ??

[@gundalfthelost1624]

Time Team ALWAYS have/had three days. No matter where they are.

[@RKHageman]

Lol. That was the design of the whole series.

[@kasie680]

If the Romans were there 300 years doesnt that make them English?? 😂

[@gina928]

The homeowner did not do the historians any favors by using the stones on his stairs. He knew they were old but he didn't care. That's not right. He should have left them in place until archaeologists could see them in situ.

[@jameswebb4593]

Its called recycling , a practice that has been utilized since man walked the earth.

[@HairyNumbNuts]

Interesting that this is being broadcast in Australia when even the original producer doesn't do that as a local network owns the copyright. You'd think Dan Snow wouldn't need to just flog off other people's documentaries. I suppose that makes it easy to steal the otherwise-owned material.

[@UpRisingDown]

getting tired of these click baits