Time Team S08-E08 Basildon, Berkshire

In 1838, navvies laying Brunel's Great Western Railway found two Roman floor mosaics, probably from a villa, at Lower Basildon, in Berkshire.
The mosaics were broken up and the site almost forgotten until recent aerial photographs revealed a series of crop marks in the fields by the railway.
Did Brunel's Great Western cut through a Roman villa? And what else might Time Team find in these fields?

[@ClassCiv]

Until I saw this video online I had completely forgotten I ever took part in this film. The only thing I do remember is very badly twisting my ankle walking from the incident room as my foot slipped off the side of the metalled road which had a sharp edge to it. Funnily enough it has been permanently weak ever since. A memorable, if uncomfortable, legacy of Time Team and it's quite amusing now to remember that it happened on this shoot.

[@thysonsacclaim]

Ah no! It's funny how time flies like that isn't it? Love your contributions to the show and work in general. I became interested in Classical Roman History and Archaeology after taking Latin in high school. I don't think it's offered at my alma mater anymore which is a shame, but I am thankful I was given the opportunity.

[@Invictus13666]

Damn. My actual favorite recurring expert.

[@talamioros]

OMG it's Guy de la Bedoyere! And you have a channel! *subscribes*

[@TheShootist]

14:47 Guy! you're so young! why are you not appearing on the new TIME TEAM?

[@davidtownsend6092]

dude no way me too! I just made a few bucks off a trailer I found but still

[@darrylwithrow293]

Phil rules! 'Who needs a roman building when you have a 3,000 year old flint artifact?"

[@spacelemur7955]

I was telling my wife about Time Team about ten minutes ago, and she mentioned that the largest gold hoarde ever found here in Sweden (in 1880) was by a farmer who got to keep the lion's Share of the coins, which he then melted down!!! Thinking how awful that was, I turned to TT just now and learn about the two destroyed roman murals. What next, tonight, I break an heirloom?

[@victoriaeads6126]

I love this one. Despite the difficulties, they still manage to produce some wonderful archeology. I mean, WHO WOULD STEAL TIME TEAM'S EQUIPMENT??!? At least the railway builders had SOME impetus for breaking up the mosaic (even if if was a nefarious one...) But my favorite but, besides Phil being The Ultimate Phil, was the peafowl. We've got peafowl, and I always love seeing these beautiful birds.

[@erawanpencil]

Incredible that Phil actually takes his shovel with him each night 😂 Sometimes I think he's just acting but this shows he's the real deal West Country farmer-archaeologist!

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Probably from the old school of... "If you don't have your tools, you don't get to work today ." I've been there myself .....

[@gentlemanfarmer6042]

I love Robin, so proper in his retort to Tony, about cracking on Phil....."Yes, go say that to his face."

[@basstrammel1322]

Sometimes I'm convinced geo phys are included for comedic relief.

[@Invictus13666]

Sometimes I’m convinced you’re a pathetic joke.

[@stevenwilson6450]

A Wonderful segment of a tremendous series. This is my third time to watch it from beginning to end. I really enjoy Phil when he latches onto a Neolithic component. Prehistoric archraeology was and is my field of passion. I "get" his excitement. Well done Time Team!

[@maeve4686]

Of course Phil keeps his favorite tool under his bed. Where would you keep yours?

[@mamavswild]

Well, I keep mine wrapped tightly in my arms as I sleep, beat that Phil!

[@kevingouldrup9265]

What I would like to know is did the rabbits get the proper permits to dig there?

[@georgenewickstrand4434]

LOL! 😅😂😊

[@davidserxner8786]

Brilliant on letting the students help make the mosaic!

[@nickrich56]

...Phil kept his shovel under his bed?

[@gazzaboo8461]

Romans, masters of pixel art. They'd have been great game artists in the 80's. They could make anything in 2 bit colour!

[@patrickomeagher9868]

The train tracks through the site remind me of when I lived in Nara. Japan. Heijo-kyo is the site of the first permanent capitol of Japan from the 8th century AD. The whole region is covered in kofun burial mounds and there's archaeology there going back into pre-history. And tracks from the Kintetsu rail line go right through the ancient palace site itself, which is a historical park. How many ancient monuments do you have to dodge trains to visit? lol.... groan...

[@Libbathegreat]

I live in Athens and the oldest intra-city rail line plows right through the Ancient Agora. In fairness, it's impossible to do any sort of construction here that doesn't cut right through something ancient. And on the bright side, it makes for a pleasant train ride ^^)

[@michellearohde]

Every time I see the name Barney Sloane, my brain interprets it as Blarney Stone.

[@Ana_crusis]

I think of Barney Rubble

[@anthonyeveritt9366]

I think that’s dyslexia

[@dinx556]

Excellent, the rabbits know what is under there! Very interesting to see how a Roman mosaic was made, lucky land owner.

[@schradeya]

29:43 "It's obviously the _fill_ of the ditch" says the guy who is obviously the *Phil* of the ditch! Badum-chhhh! :P Ahhh, I kill me.

[@Seeker386]

+schradeya Hey I'm just glad to see some current comments!

[@schradeya]

MegaDoug4 Time Team is just such a fantastic show! I've had several EXCELLENT conversations, really recently, on Time Team video comments. People are definitely still watching. I was a couple days behind another person on watching the entire series from beginning to end, and we ended up friends! I kept on seeing this same name commenting "[a few] days ago" over and over, because we were both watching them all in order. We ended up replying to each other and getting in conversations, and we even added each other to circles! And there is a brilliant sociology-based conversation on one of the episodes (the one where they make Matt be a Victorian era prisoner) with a few people updating pretty regularly, as late as last week. Something about Time Team actually incites _civil_ and _intelligent_ conversations, even on the textual cesspool that is KZbin comments! It's actually a smart show that doesn't condescend nor treat its audience like idiots, which is *so* hard to find these days. I guess that brings out the best in people. Heh... and I say that on a thread with the _dumbest joke ever_ as original post. :P

[@Seeker386]

schradeya I agree. It's nice conversing with mature adults! And yes, I'm not watching them in order, but I'm totally addicted. I had (and still have) a span of 20 years or so without TV on a regular basis so I missed all of these. Really enjoying them. So while were here- question: their artist,Victor, do you know if he did work for National Geographic as well? His work looks familiar.

[@schradeya]

MegaDoug4 Isn't Victor the best?! I don't know about National Geographic... I wouldn't be surprised at all. According to Wikipedia, he's contributed to over 300 books! You've probably seen his art in _something_ for sure. He really is talented.

[@Locahaskatexu]

+schradeya You really shouldn't take the Mick, it's not nice :P

[@geezzzwdf]

one of your best yet🎉

[@barbmcconnaughey3070]

Every episode is a Master Class.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Those drums ... ❤ "Time Team" jingle.

[@Lanxe]

Geophysics John: "...its just possible...". Hedging his bets since 1996 lol

[@sarahcoleman5269]

Those poor, stupid thieves, they probably thought they would get a trailer full of power tools. Nope, tarps, maps and shovels.

[@timrogers2045]

Dids.

[@laurachapple6795]

Imagine stealing a trailer, finding it's full of junk that you throw away, and then a few weeks later seeing this on TV.

[@juliechi6166]

I like Mark Corney! So informative.

[@knight2255]

He offers guided tours these days, the Pompei one is tempting!

[@gregb6469]

Why, when it comes to appreciation of the past, are so many people just clods? "Oh, here are some old Roman mosaics. Let's just run the railroad bed right through them, and who cares if they are destroyed?"

[@joshschneider9766]

Worth remembering that it was antiquarian focused people just as much as the navvies. Archaeology as we know it today was a teensy little baby at the time after all lol

[@basstrammel1322]

Well, money.

[@harbourdogNL]

No different today than excavating Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman & Anglo-Saxon sites and then covering them all up again so that some McHousing Estate can be built.

[@Invictus13666]

@@harbourdogNL extreme differences actually.

[@harbourdogNL]

@@Invictus13666 No. How?

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for psoting

[@jamesanthony8438]

5:22 "By the way, ignore these circles. Apparently, they're just caused by fungus." ... like toadstools and mushrooms? So we're just gonna' ignore 4 potential *faerie rings* on a dig?! That could've given Time Team something to explore each night in the off-hours! Might've finally proven the scientific existence of The Fae! But hey, they thought an ancient, musical finger pick was a 'writing stylus' in a previous show. =)

[@Gremriel]

They dug it, but obviously it's being kept a secret by the government :)

[@eboracum2012]

They should've made some tea with that fungi, after suitable id of course, for safety.

[@SandraNelson063]

On another YT channel, Guy explains what happens during a show; there is a lot of standing about on the first day, because there is so much trouble figuring out where to dig first. The old plans that they try to follow are often very confused and badly mapped out. And too much time is spent trying to find where the original dig was placed, because they wanted to start with the original trench. It makes me mad enough to chew furniture to think of that villa and mosaic being chopped up to make way for railway tracks. Grrr.

[@Invictus13666]

Why. There are plenty of other examples, and the train was needed. Settle down. Your ovaries will get twisted and then you’ll just be no fun at all.

[@debbieboring3422]

Thanks for the shows

[@shnops]

One wonders why this ancient preoccupation with burials and disposition of bodies . Why ? Remember how short lives were back then . Also how few people lived to old age . How many died violently or from unexpected means . With death around them , they desperately tried to find meaning to their existence . They spent inordinate amounts of time and effort in solving these fears and concerns by building shrines and other elaborate burial sites in hope that they might be reunited with their departed families . My theory is that we are still doing similar things with our religions to this day .

[@t.j.payeur5331]

Robin Bush is a great character...

[@basstrammel1322]

Was, unfortunatly.

[@judeirwin2222]

I occasionally encountered him in an eatery in Malmesbury. He was always very polite, but next to history, his greatest love was tucking into a nice, hot dinner. Take a look at his figure!

[@2gulfalco]

Somebody robbed Time Team, bad karma man...

[@justaguitardude]

it could be the end of the world. and you can bet pill will have his digging tools. a true professional. :)

[@robb2055]

Chris c he will be buried with it like a warrior with his sword. 😉

[@Cheeseatingjunglista]

The importance the ancient people placed in their ancestors and their history is still current today. They used stone and earth to mark the even more ancient peoples place in their culture. We use the modern medium of the internet where Time Team dig up the ancestors on our behalf. The impulse to look back as strong as ever

[@gaius_enceladus]

How could *anyone* be so crazy as to destroy Roman mosaics??? You'd have to be INSANE!

[@robertwbraiden]

Ideas about the past back then were considerably different than what they are today, unfortunately. But then, the same things happen today anyway. If Roman or prehistoric or other finds are discovered on a building site, the finds are recorded and as much as possible are removed, but ultimately the site will be destroyed to make way for the new building. On some occasions the finds are incorporated into the new building, but either way, the original site is more or less lost.

[@tdruce66]

Or drunk. After watching the episode where Matt becomes a Navigator I am sure he would be totally oblivious to what he was doing.

[@joshschneider9766]

Notice Matt wasn't hung over or particularly intoxicated to indecisiveness in that episode? They were very metered doses of booze coupled with strongly hard work. The amount to get them wasted would have been twelve to fifteen pints versus four or five of they weren't working as hard or metering their intake. We call it high functioning alcoholism and a good twentieth century British example is Winston Churchill

[@joshschneider9766]

As for Georgian and early Victorian attitudes towards the past they were pretty autocratic racists by modern standards

[@judeirwin2222]

Do you have the smallest idea of the wonderful things destroyed for centuries by miners, road builders, bridge builders, house and office block builders, airport constructors, etc etc? We are destructive, greedy humans. And if you happen to be a member of some indigenous group with sacred sites...good luck. Some bastards with lots of money and big machines will move in one day and trash the lot.

[@cillyhoney1892]

Early British Neolithic people seem to have had a lifestyle similar to the Mississippian people in North America. Both groups practiced defleshing the dead by exposure, then burying the bones in mounds later and the mounds would be located by a bend in a river. Native American Mississippian Mound Culture people would go into the river to cleanse themselves after burying their dead loved ones in the mound. It's said that you have to cross moving water so the spirits don't follow you. They would bury their dead during an annual ceremony, like during the Green Corn festival. I wonder if the Paleolithic people in England had similar beliefs.

[@mercedes523]

How disgusting that thieves came in. What a world we share!

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Ah mountains in the distance.

[@0623kaboom]

300 hours for 1/4th of the full mosaic .... so 1200 for ONE ... thats one heck of a lot of work for flooring lol these days you get quick flooring that fills a 3 bedroom 3 floor home in a a day or two lol

[@Horseyperson12]

But won't last 2000 years.

[@Angelbach1995]

Someone needs to do a statistical analysis on the positive hit rates of Geo-Phys.

[@Invictus13666]

Keep proving just how ignorant you are...

[@neonskyline1]

As far as i'm aware "Don" means river, I lived in Boldon, hill on the river

[@Wppk765]

I wonder if they ever caught the vagabonds who nicked the supply trailer?!

[@Chubachus]

Doesn't quite look like a high crime area, lol.

[@si4632]

Haven't you herd of do as you likeys?

[@TeresaTrimm]

First aired February 25, 2001.

[@berniemccann8935]

I wonder how much time was spent synchronising the script with the passing of the trains?

[@guinevere4365]

So funny I was wondering exactly the same thing; Tony had an odd expression on his face as if to say “we did it- got ‘em at both ends of the intro” ...

[@robertmills8640]

After watching a few dozen episodes, it seems that anyplace in Britain that you stick a shovel in you'll find something that's 1000+ yrs old, LOL

[@charliepenny2011]

33:08 I don't reckon Phil thinks it's a mortuary enclosure

[@Libbathegreat]

HAHA That is a Skeptical Phil face if I've ever seen one.

[@johnrogers2826]

With Harry Potter helping with the tiles, 20,000 should be no problem. Wingardium levioso!

[@joshschneider9766]

Leviosa. With an a and a flourish according to Hebermione ;)

[@thomasandersen2534]

I knew this girl I nicknamed her Dumbledore. Because she was the HEADMASTER ! 🧙🏼‍♂️

[@1101millie97]

No surprise the rabbits know the lay of the land better than the geophys team, and where to dig.

[@Invictus13666]

Another moronic twat who finds himself witty.

[@iamfreebgm8856]

Were the stolen trailer recovered? Were the thieves found and brought to Justice? With the logo on and All, must those bastard thieves have some huge cahones.

[@chrispascoe8116]

So much of our history lost due to the ignorance & greed of man. :(

[@susanf.7737]

Chris Pascoe it really is such a pity.

[@CreatingwithWinglessAngel]

You mean like spoiled rich romans who slaugtered 80.000 Icenies when they invaided britania?!

[@andrewlothian1568]

And it would have been rediscovered how?

[@BryonLape]

Does every Roman pottery expert in Britain have a deep voice?

[@Jigger2361]

...it is mandatory as laid out by the directives issued by the Ministry of Deep and Sultry Voices

[@magster6022]

When I attended a course on ancient Rome at the State University of New York at Albany in 1975, the very deep-voiced prof stated hyperbolically, "There were no women in ancient Rome." And then, in case that wasn't offensive enough, he repeated it. I got up and walked out.

[@neonskyline1]

As far as i was aware the word "Don" means "river" I lived in Boldon, Hill on the river

[@shellythom7248]

That’s terrible someone stole the van or whatever it was. That’s a shame but good thing they left the tools! I’m surprised they didn’t take them and sell them on eBay or something hope they got caught! I just learned of this show since the corona quarantine LOL what an awesome show to binge watch! I used to watch another tv show that was from Britain as a young kid because it’s humor was a bit more open then here...go figure LOL u would think here they would be more open with that stuff. Lol

[@Ijusthopeitsquick]

Where is "here"?

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

​@Ijusthopeitsquick talking about selling it on ebay,I guess the USA.....

[@paulgeoffreybrown1]

"Virtually all of our archeological tools were stolen overnight ..." LOL! Rascals.

[@annazaman9657]

Wonder whatever happened to Mick the dig? Where did he go on to do? I know he became a dendrochronologist.

[@TermiteUSA]

Who is Reijer and are Time Team classics being pinched this way?

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Are you the cops😊

[@beanixdorf6977]

So then, where did the navis put the dirt they had to dig up to put in the tracks? Could they have made an elevated area all the way down the tracks. Meaning you’d have to dig way deeper into the ground as you get closer to the train?

[@magster6022]

Only the rabbits know for sure.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Dig spread sn pack down

[@jeannineg1350]

The next in the series S8E9 will be, "The Bone Caves", not "Holy Island, Lindisfarne" as some have listed.

[@GrahamCLester]

Thanks. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4mTYnZnqNh_p9E

[@georgedorn1022]

"The Bone Caves" was originally episode 8, this was episode 9 and "Holy Island" was episode 10.

[@jeannineg1350]

My point being, be sure not to miss Season Eight’s episode titled “The Bone Caves”. Relying on this channel’s lineup, I very nearly did.

[@georgedorn1022]

@@jeannineg1350 Apologies if my comment seemed like a criticism. It certainly wasn't meant as such. I wonder if certain networks did not show "The Bone Caves" due to nature of the evidence regarding some of the human bone?

[@jeannineg1350]

George Dorn Thanks. The thought of shifting episode numbers made my head spin. It occurred to me, I didn’t communicate myself well in my my first comment. Peace.

[@adamsjerome1839]

The rabbits escaped from the NIMH.

[@shnops]

They say it's bitterly cold in the field . What's a common temperature in the fall in Berkshire ?

[@richardphillips6281]

It varies from year to year. Sometimes very summerish, rainy or freezing cold!

[@maeve4686]

#miniadler The swastika has been used since at least 5,000 years ago in many ancient cultures around the world. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Native Americans, Japan, ancient Germanic cultures, Greeks, and the ROMANS, who used this symbol to identify their god, Jupiter. Please don't infer astonishment to the mf'er nazis use of this revered symbol as showing up on a mosaic and noone says anything in the comments. Maybe these viewers knew, already.

[@johnrogers2826]

Wow, could Carenza be any more negative about the progress of the mosaic?

[@endrightwinglunacy]

Likely producer's questions for her to ask.

[@oni_goroshi]

exactly! i would have asked her if she had anything better to do.

[@thysonsacclaim]

She was doing Tony's job, because he was at the site. Typically he's the one who asks those things. He just is able to make a joke about it.

[@eboracum2012]

Big surprise, all talk and not much do.

[@l-b284]

Wow, could the armchair quarterbacks stop ragging on the only female archeologist on the team?

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Oh just as a guess we're going to need 8,000 to 10,000 pieces we guess to finish a quarter dang😮

[@tarnishedknight730]

@5:00 explains why Phil's fingers are all yellow and blue @4:11

[@johnrogers2826]

Thought maybe he was a huffer!

[@Libbathegreat]

Came looking for this comment, couldn't continue till mystery was solved!

[@Invictus13666]

We know. We aren’t as dumb as you.

[@phoule76]

those two trains were on Time... Team. they were otherwise late, as usual.

[@WashuHakubi4]

Wow, based on the maps at the end of the Episode, the railroad couldn't have done a better job of demolishing the villa if they had deliberately set out to do so. The price of Progress.

[@Jigger2361]

... the Voice of Reason

[@Invictus13666]

Yes. It’s such a shame it was the only villa constructed in all of Britain! The horror!

[@deborahparham3783]

​@@Invictus13666Do the rest of us a favor. Squirm back under the rock you slithered out from and stay there.

[@OUigot]

Carenza isn't the host or boss of Time Team but she sure thinks she is. She jumps in the trench when the cameras are rolling taking credit for the finds others worked hard to dig out. Cleanest dressed field archeologist of any one in Time Team. She's Lazy!!

[@robinandrews5478]

Don’t care for her attitude!

[@Invictus13666]

Nope. She’s a founding member and one of the actual experts with scientific heft to match micks. And she’s gotten plenty dirty working. So set yourself on fire...I beg you.

[@OUigot]

@@Invictus13666 - Nope, she was given the position. She didn't earn it. Mick even explained it in another video.

[@l-b284]

And you're just a cowardly troll who is threatened by smart women - next

[@Horseyperson12]

I never noticed any of the things that irritate you all about Carenza. She's really gotten under your skin. 😮

[@Mossyz.]

Wow someone nicked their stuff.. !!

[@si4632]

@@robarnold4104 yes the do as you likeys have struck again🤣

[@johnirby493]

I wish I had a "modest" villa.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Only if I don't have to work the gardens

[@ct1762]

why does he always say "we only have 3 days"? just for tv or is it some kind of ordinance ?

[@iamfreebgm8856]

@@williammaurice7206 its time teams standard alotted timeframe. Has been so since season 1 episode 1. I reckon Wikipedia has replies to Why that is so.

[@Jigger2361]

it adds 'drama" for tv, like decorating shows ... besides, no one needs week after week of digs in Croydon

[@Invictus13666]

@@Jigger2361 it’s not for drama. It’s a catch phrase.

[@magster6022]

They're all professionals with busy work lives -- teaching, research, etc. They can only afford to do this on a limited basis, hence three days.

[@judeirwin2222]

What a sad comment on British society that “the wide boys” from Essex helped themselves to the Time Team’s trailer and belongings.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Just the trailer, probably a bit put out when they found shovels and buckets.....

[@miniadler]

wow, is this really KZbin? This video is here for seven years now, no one ever mentioned the four swastikas in this mosaic in the comments? unreal :D

[@lorawiese5897]

The swastika has a very long history prior to Hitler (Wikipedia). Since Roman rule was before the hideous period of Hitlerism they did not view the shape in the same way, TT was going by the historical platform of Roman times.

[@Ijusthopeitsquick]

Do you think they were put there by Roman Nazis?

[@zblackrider]

Why the hell do I always get Katie and Jenny, wrong?

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Both are tall???

[@Jean-yn6ef]

💚

[@Dal606BBN]

Lol I was saying circle, circle, circle and Tony said to ignore them, lol ok Tony ignored. Time Team is the Bestest! Ew I hate fck'n Thieves, tar n feather them Tony! I hope they were caught!

[@lucygray6162]

At 8:10, Carenza immediately finds a place to hide for the next three days unless the weather improves. To occupy herself, she drops by to irritate the joy out of the Roman mosaic team (31:00) by focusing on what they haven't done, rather than their accomplishment in the short time given. .

[@eboracum2012]

Exxxx-actly

[@Invictus13666]

@@eboracum2012 and yet, she leaves more interesting things in her underwear than you are.

[@l-b284]

jealous are we? or Russian troll? Why doesn't your channel have any content? Are you even a "Lucy?"

[@granskare]

Time to move the railway!!

[@MeMommyEms]

It’s a shame somebody made a mess with their tools. Nasty people. What a shame.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Who cares about Romans, were any of our people there? The Saxons..

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

The Romans are part of your people too.....

[@barbmcconnaughey3070]

#navvies

[@richardtorz2164]

Nothing stands in the way of progress, not even archaeology sadly.

[@AquaFurs]

Is that Carenza or Rod Stewart? Can't say...

[@philaypeephilippotter6532]

Idiot.

[@l-b284]

is that a real question or are you just threatened by smart women?

[@ggghhjd]

Looks like Phil had a stab at painting his nails, judging by his fingers at 4 mins, but didn't do a very good job of it.

[@K1W1fly]

The reason is shown at 5:03...

[@desslokbasileus571]

43:52　　　　44:37　😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@trbratt9941]

Dec, 2019 sound is out of sync

[@theonetheonly2098]

They should’ve had a Rome an crucifixion.

[@tomthx5804]

Don't they have haircuts in England?

[@mrs.schmenkman]

That's cause these are all old hippies

[@Jigger2361]

..in wake of the Foot and Mouth epidemic in 2001, there was a scissor shortage across the UK and people had to cross the Channel for haircuts

[@neocyber4665]

euro trash dont steal just break and ruin so uro trash