Time Team S19-E09 Rome's Wild West

The Roman legionary fort of Caerleon in South Wales is one of the most famous and best preserved Roman sites in Britain.
It stood on the edge of the Roman Empire, but its huge amphitheatre and immense baths, and the scale of its ruined walls, are all testament to its power and importance.
But just outside the fort, archaeologists have discovered signs of yet another huge structure leading from the fort down to the river. It seems to be a vast courtyard surrounded by stone buildings and with a mysterious square structure standing in the centre.
Joining a large team from Cardiff University, Tony and the Team have just three days to help piece together the answer. And when they do, it casts new light on what was once seen as solely a military outpost.

[@SandraNelson063]

If it's not raining, it's not Time Team!

[@willowhofmann7409]

When I'm listening to Guy explained the gladiators I reminded that these are the same people that annihilated the Druids for (they say...) human sacrifice. Hippocrates might have been onto something....

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Roman's entertainment an fun, Druid to a religion, God. Oh an accepted your religion if you followed their empirical doctored one

[@margomoore4527]

I love it when they bring in knowledgeable re-enactors! It’s always good fun!

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

Every time Phil says 'actually,' everybody take a drink!

[@johannaholmgren8088]

Just catching up with a lot of the later TT episodes; reading through the comments confirmed what I've been feeling myself while watching the show. It struck me that the tone of the show changed significantly. I thought at first I was imagining things: altho I quite like Alex Langlands, as I had first seen him in the Farms series (Tales From the Green Valley, Victorian Farm, etc), my impression of him in these later episodes was that in spite of being a highly qualified and serious archaeologist, he was not allowed to use his talents. Mary Anne just didn't make any kind of impression (not her fault I'm sure), because she doesn't seem to be excited at all about what she's doing. In fact, that was my overall impression. Phil and Tony and Stewart and Raksha and Matt all had that same excitement about what they were doing but we don't get to see hardly any of it. In fact, these later episodes of TT are so radically different that if it weren't for all my favorite peeps being in these episodes, I wouldn't even know it was TT! Really don't like the direction those twats took here....they ruined a perfectly lovely archaeology program.

[@speedysteve9121]

I love Phil's west country Somerset accent.

[@deborahparham3783]

Wiltshire accent!

[@karmayt8956]

Phil has good eyeballs to see the intaglio. Lucky him.

[@robertsmith5744]

"What did the Romans ever do for us?" TV documentaries !!

[@TheClearwall]

Why do you want to be a woman, Reg?

[@mcanta2898]

@Jasonsenipor "what did the Romans ever do for us?" is part of a sketch form Monty Python's Life of Brian. watch the sketch, it should be on netflix and or youtube

[@bokhans]

When the Romans left the Brits went back to eat from plates of wood. Culture stepped back many hundreds of years. 2020 will be the jubilee year when the Brits repeat and honour that memory and try to repeat it.

[@margomoore4527]

The Roman concrete in the “drains” ditch looks quite modern. The more I learn about the Romans, the more that I think we modern English-speaking peoples are just the current version of Romans.

[@corneliawissing7950]

What's Matt's official position on TT? Jack of all trades? General dogsbody? The push-him-into-everything man?

[@callieniemann2280]

25 year contract although I am sure very few lived long enough to complete the contract.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Front or back line troopers retirement would be interesting to know 😊

[@rogerwilco2]

38:53 I never suspected Phil Harding to be part of the Dutch military... ;-)

[@speedbrake22]

39:44 probably

[@limafive]

best all weather clothing

[@TadeBeladeyt]

Maybe he got it when TT was in Holland (Utrecht) for a show about the roman rivervessel. He has been wearing it for the last couple of seasons.

[@RKHageman]

A Woolly Pully is British Army kit.

[@frankrshirer8851]

Phil has worn both a Dutch Army sweater and a British "Wooly Pully," as well as a British Army camo all-weather/field jacket he was given by the Brit soldiers at the end of the Salisbury Plain dig several seasons earlier. The 'Wooly Pully' wasn't authorized for wear by the US Army in Germany, but if you managed to get one, and kept it under your field jacket, it was rarely mentioned.

[@vulcan1429]

Such healthy female diggers! A joy to behold the wobbling and jiggling.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Hoping you're on the wrong site!😂😂😂

[@sliewood]

Had to bail. Mick was right. This is tragic. I wanted archaeology and got some crappy soap rubbish. Probably why I never saw it when it was aired first. No. That'd be cos I havent had TV in me house since 2006. Which is cos it's all gone Pete Tong.

[@gloriagrace59]

guttersnipe, so true lol. Also, I used to have a dog that I knicknamed guttersnipe👍

[@GordonjSmith1]

The large courtyard and surrounding buildings are a 'depot'. The central building is the 'accounts house' (goods in/out). The drainage was required to keep goods dry. The structure was by the river, as that is where the goods came in. One of Time Team's poorer episodes.

[@BryonLape]

Season 19 seems to have many episodes not on-line.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

+Bryon Lape Season 18 only had 10 episodes rather than the usual 13. :-(

[@areyouavinalaff]

according to timeteam wiki season 18 only had 10 episodes

[@ste1072]

Bryon Lape all 20 seasons are on 4on demand

[@jesikebiking]

I would have given Raksha the camper and Matt the tent

[@mikeburgess944]

It was his camper!

[@jesikebiking]

@@mikeburgess944 Still be a gentleman and give Raksha the camper

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

Matt and Caroline. That night. "Midnight archaeology". Sweaty.

[@speedysteve9121]

Jack rocks at 18:30

[@Gorgonzola1970]

This must be the new disastrous format that I heard about... What a shame...

[@neonskyline1]

I tried watching this series again, it's total crap, i stopped at 13.00

[@barryeva9186]

I might be suffering from a senior moment but did not Matt and Rakshaw get engaged?

[@Go-Dawgs]

"A horribly delicious" centurion leader for Alex? This lady Mary Ann says the silly crap which proves why the show could not last with her addition. Her questions seem unnatural and her makeup unnatural. Maybe she would have been acceptable digging but she seems like she would have refused. No wonder she caused Mick to Quit! Make her be a camp wife or follower and it may have been better.

[@monikagrosch9632]

So it is Raksha’s trench and a MALE has to give the first answer, even if SHE has been asked?😊

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Uhm may have just spoken first might seem out of turn though 😊

[@bigbensarrowheadchannel2739]

Too bad this wonderful program had to end. I miss the whole dig team. Phil Harding is a legend at my house.

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

They brought it back. Look up: New Time Team 2022

[@pollyb.4648]

I agree and miss Stewart and Helen and Mick and Victor- his drawings were such gems!

[@cayhill81]

You are totally right! I have to admit that Mary Ann sadly does add nothing for the show ... and I am still sad that Mick decided to quit at some point ... he was one amazing guy!

[@ann-marieleonard1921]

@@cayhill81 He left TT because he felt it was dumbing down. He died suddenly a year later.

[@cayhill81]

@@ann-marieleonard1921 I know and it is still sad

[@omargomezomar8808]

laws. noys

[@omargomezomar8808]

syvu nnf m gmail tj 7v in

[@JdubU]

Just wanted to take a moment and thank you for all the TimeTeam videos. I’m on a pandemic binge to watch every episode. Thanks again, Be Well.

[@891Henry]

Phil's accent is Wiltshire - also known as 'pirate'. He is 62 in this program and still digging.

[@joshschneider9766]

i think hes about 74 or 75 now and rocking and rolling as ever. recently did a site for wessex archaeology on the battle of waterloo and it was really informative as well. phils a natural presenter, clearly learned from tony hehe

[@nickrich56]

... no Mick or Francis ... none of Johns' geophys or Stewart or Bridget or Helen ...

[@BryonLape]

When they dumbed down the show and the fans were insulted.

[@HomesteadingADimeataTime]

Why is the cameraman always focused down the women's shirts? Creepy!

[@barryeva9186]

You noticed that as well,,,,,

[@sherryelliott4795]

At least Matt got a break from experimental archeology!

[@animerlon]

Was wondering if he was relieved or put out at being replaced. 😀

[@RKHageman]

Yay, Guy de la Bedoyère is here! His scholarly approach makes up for the added fluff quotient.

[@deborahparham3783]

Not hardly.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

I wish someone would take up and look at the old Welsh stories and put them with Archaeology and see if there was any half truths to them. They did it with the "Iliad" and that worked out.

[@shaundavenport9855]

Leigh Foulkes I couldn't agree more Leigh!

[@smokeybear5460]

I've watched pretty much all of these now, Tony and Phil are funny.

[@gregpenny4384]

I am struggling to finish this program trying to understand why they have brought this woman into the show, it would be nice to edit her out!

[@scarletfluerr]

In case you haven't figured it out yet the show jumped the shark. They change the format in the lineup and the show bombed out and failed. That was the producers fault, Mary ann and Alex did nothing wrong. Mary Ann has degrees in both archeology and anthropology, Alex is done several history programs for the BBC. They're both professionals.

[@Jigger2361]

@@scarletfluerr yeah they did nothing wrong other than read over their proposed contract and not ask "do I really wanna be the one to destroy this time-honoured beloved show?" as an archaeologist, if someone asked me to be a new presenter on a programme that had run for close to 20 years with a passionate following, i would have said "no thank you very much...but i will play a secondary role". That two half wits were brought in as ratings began to drop and they knew it. Ego is what brought them there...

[@BobSmith-in2gn]

I use my arrows to fast forward when she comes on the program. I dont have to see her that way.

[@bobbyjohnson7069]

Reality? They need " Mary Sues " to please WOMEN who probably could care less and would rather watch " east Enders" re-runs. And of course it's always nice to show " women as smart as men" or smarter cause, well it makes women feel better and included . We know there are plenty of knowledgeable and talented women in paleontology and archeology, and have been in the field for many years- yet you DONT SEE THE producers feel they have to bring in a guy in shows like secrets of the dead when the primary cast and experts are majority WOMEN....

[@thomasvandevelde8157]

Wait wait wait, how old is this series? Isn´t this rather recent?

[@petenielsen6683]

A blonde after my own heart - very attractive and wearing an "I Love New York!" shirt. I wonder if she would love our winters!

[@NolaGal2601]

There are many times when Tony acts like a little Centurion himself. In fact, when Guy and Mary Ann told Alex what he would be doing, I half expected Tony to be the Centurion in question. He's great at being bossy.

[@edwardbryson1992]

The original format series should have been two hours long, this series should have been 30 mins long.

[@Jigger2361]

yes, if they cut what's er face and alex out

[@Zine2me]

This was pretty dismal. I'm very thankful there were so many good years into it before it got "new and improved".

[@Jigger2361]

amen, sista, amen

[@keithkilligrew1417]

Why do some people know better, If it ain't bust don't fix it.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Whats nice about TT is any episode stands alone.😊

[@OUigot]

Mary Ann is the reason Mick left the show. No, she did not have her Masters in Archeology as some reports say, she studied some Archeology. I don't blame her though, I'd take the job if they offered it to me and I know about as much Archeology as she does. Too bad, people who knew what they were doing were replaced by people who looked good on camera. Well, that pretty much explains all media networks.

[@thomasvandevelde8157]

OK, you mean to tell me they wrecked this too? After Top Gear they torpedoed Time Team too? I hear BBC4 is about to go off air, so we can´t hear it anyway anymore without paying/internet. So guess it´s the death of an Era, rather than a show. Click your World Away has replaced good ol´ fashioned UPBRINGING!

[@Skyfire_The_Goth]

No, Mick left the show because channel 4 was dumbing it down, the last straw as when channel 4 passed over his recommendations for new members and brought Mary-Ann and Alex in, he had nothing against either of them. What do you mean she didn't have her Masters at this point, was this before 2002 (yes I had to look this up) when she graduated? She was an archaeological presenter for several shows before and after her appearance on time team, and from what I remember she left as soon as he contract was up, she didn't like being tricked like she was, she thought she'd be doing serious archaeological presenting like she had done before, but instead they tricked her into being the eye candy of the show. Face it, neither her nor Alex are responsible for the shows demise, that falls squarely at the feet of channel 4 execs dumbing the show down.

[@thysonsacclaim]

Ugh Ochota ruins it.

[@gloriahernandez7438]

I miss victors drawings

[@Tina06019]

I miss Victor's drawings, and I miss Carenza,

[@Wally-H]

Yes Victor was excellent, they should have kept him. Pleased to say, the great man is 83 and still with us. @@Tina06019

[@ingriddubbel8468]

Victor's drawings NOT victors drawings.

[@Jigger2361]

@@ingriddubbel8468 umm we get it ffs

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks so much for posting.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

I believe Caerleon to be the actual place of Camelot. It seems to match very much with the old Welsh stories and is in South Wales. I wish they would have talked about it a little, even if they disproved it.

[@shaundavenport9855]

I know your comment is a year old Leigh but did you find out anything??I myself was born in Newport W.I also had an Auntie that lived in Caerleon.Cheers.

[@ajb5852]

Robert Horker a lot of tales about King Arthur were based on Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledig) and based in Between Gwent and Denbighshire... I’m sure that Camelot was not real, but was probably based on something else...

[@barbaradyson6951]

Does Mary Anne actually get her hands dirty

[@jhbluestar]

what was the reason for her anyway?

[@RonHei]

She never does. Stewart was similar. In over 200 episodes only one shows him digging and that’s because he’s trying to outdo everyone else. To me he was the most insecure of all the TT members. Too bad the model was brought in and we don’t see Mick, Victor, John, Brigid, Francis and Helen in the last two seasons.

[@fatnsassy99]

@@RonHei I don't believe Stewart was an archaeologist. Was he? He did the geophys n he did all the work for that. The episodes I seen he went out of his way doing his job. My favorite was when he n Mick would take the chopper n have a quick survey 👍😁

[@RKHageman]

Ron H You’ve missed the point. Don’t be ridiculous. Stewart is a landscape surveyor, not a field archaeologist - he’s not a digger and that was not his job. There was one episode where he was helping out in a trench because they were fast running out of time and needed everyone to pitch in. It has nothing to do with “outdoing” anyone, or being insecure. Different members of the team have different functions. Robin Bush didn’t dig because he was the historian; John didn’t dig because he was working with geophys; and Stewart didn’t dig because he was the landscape surveyor from E.H. Francis and John both appear a number of times in the last two years.

[@RKHageman]

fatnsassy 99 Stewart was the landscape surveyor and archaeologist; it was John Gater who did the geophysics, not Stewart.

[@robertwbraiden]

I dearly love Time Team but I must admit that this episode had a great deal of fuffing about in it. It's as if the archaeology was of secondary importance to playing dress-up. Perhaps this was one of the episodes that Mick had in mind when he criticised the show for failing to keep the archaeology as its focus.

[@damaged05170]

Agreed...but Tony got his knighthood, did he not?

[@charlestownshend5655]

Agreed - it is a bit sad to see TT slowly disintegrate from an instructive and enjoyable series to become fluffier. The new person Mary Anne contributes nothing of any sense to the programme and seems to be more an ornament than any kind of scholar. It almost looks as if the producers are looking for something for her to do. She certainly doesn't get her hands dirty. Carenza has gone; Helen has gone; Mick Aston has quit in disgust. These people had real knowledge and could discuss things intelligently without asking pathetic questions.

[@dirkbonesteel]

Charles Townshend CORRECT I hate it when I accidentally click on a show with Zippy the Pinhead fapping about with a chart or what ever worn as a purse and Horse tooth Bloby Girl playing Presenter. This was a great show for 18 years

[@Seeker386]

damaged05170 Ha. I find it amusing when entertainers get knighted... Although- he was a great Baldric!

[@Seeker386]

Charles Townshend Yes. They've been doing the "eye candy" for quite some time now, as if we're stupid cows and don't see what they are doing!

[@evelynmoyer9069]

I also miss some of the "regulars" , but enjoyed the Cardiff students. The building is a "security shack" like the one I worked at the gold mine in Nevada where we monitored all the traffic in and out of the complex.

[@Immopimmo]

Matt is so cute.. and I'm saying that as a straight guy. I bet he has no problems getting girlfriends.

[@InquisitorMatthewAshcraft]

Well, he did marry Raksha after all.

[@RKHageman]

Inquisitor Matthew Ashcraft He did? Wow, that’s cool.

[@elisabeth6108]

Raksha married to Nigel Jeffries... And in the last few years of TT Matt is wearing a wedding band.

[@mohammedfrancis]

The Roman Dad's Army 27:28

[@animerlon]

Such a pity no cameras were on hand in the pub, would have loved seeing Matt's efforts at karaoke.

[@scarletfluerr]

It must have been a full throated effort to be that hoarse!

[@animerlon]

@@scarletfluerr 😁I'm sure it was very enthusiastic. Now i want to see it more, especially if Raksha got involved too.

[@InquisitorMatthewAshcraft]

@@animerlon Actually she did. We were ALL pished that night. The next morning was hell though.

[@animerlon]

@@InquisitorMatthewAshcraft Don't suppose you have video of the night. It's one time i really wish i could have been hanging out with the team. I imagine a lot of fun was had by all.

[@Pauldjreadman]

As the episodes go on I agree on Alex and Mary. Alex doesn't do much at all. What was the point? If he was in to replace Stewart. he is not doing a very good job. They should have overlapped. Just let guy replace them he would have done a better job.

[@Jigger2361]

agreed

[@CanadaCob]

I want Matt's camper van

[@monikagrosch9632]

Omg. Did they get the inspiration for the Roman training camp from those dumb Nazi movies????

[@ExUSSailor]

Love Matt's ride. I used to have a '71.

[@bryngerard4334]

Pete seems like a Robot! You can see why Time Team came to an end. How sad, it was a wonderful program to watch. This is so scripted that it is difficult to watch, like a 'B' movie!

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thanks.

[@genebohannon8820]

I want to see the karaoke footage!

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

Are you over 18????? Might be banned 😂

[@stephanieruggles7783]

Where is Stuart Ainsworth in this Episode? Was he replaced by Alex Langlands? I know Alex from series like Tales of the Green Valley, the Tudor Farm, the Edwardian Farm etc. where he and Ruth Goodman with Peter Ginn aka Fons are going back from the modern life to live in medieval, Tudor times or else episode using the clothes, tools, buildings and traditions from way back when for 1 year in order to make a farm produce enough stock for the live cattle as well as their inhabitants. As well as making money with growing crops for sale, holding feasts like Christmas etc.

[@DanKetchum007]

Notice at 4.57 that there are already marks in the grass from the digger tracks. Shows that they had to reshoot the scene.

[@failuretocommunicate8690]

Among the discoveries in this episode is the degree of irritation incurred when Tony says "GeoPhys" or Geofizz what seems several hundred times.

[@Seeker386]

Could be worse. I'm surprised that it wasn't reduced to "fizz"...

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

+Brandon Nobnarb His rapping name is G-Fizz.

[@happygingertime]

Raksha is always saying, "I've never found,... in my archeological career" also, I find her quite attractive.

[@mikeblair2594]

***** really.she is quite attractive indeed.we may need to get out more,but you need to rethink how you look at the opposite sex or you'll never loose your virginity.

[@marniesweet4677]

Raksha is a sweetie with a smile that assures you all is right with the world. She would be a faithful, non-judgmental friend. I am always happy to see her.

[@shaundavenport9855]

Mike Blair What's wrong with saying that you find someone attractive?I have had many relationships with many beautiful ladies. To all of whom I' told they were attractive. You sound like a liberal,feminist whipped tree smoocher!! I would imagine you have a keen interest in Greek history!

[@Wally-H]

Saw her on Digging for Britain the other night. She's put a bit of weight on, but still attractive. Comes across as being really nice and down to earth.

[@evilbetty9204]

Brought his camper van...his house.

[@steveb1ish]

...and then from left field Tony says, "Can I get in your trench lads" not that there's anything wrong with that. But then Phil starts telling Tony about his big timber and his monumental amount of slag.

[@0623kaboom]

why cant the big building outside the fort and near the shore be a warehouse used when they unload ships ... they can get all the goods off quickly and into a main stock yard ready to be moved to the various places that need what was brought in ... you literally could unload a ship faster like this and still have some porters moving goods into the fort as needed ...

[@littlsuprstr]

alex belongs with ruth and peter

[@DarkSyster]

Alex is just not up to Stewart's level for Time Team, but he's great along side Ruth and Peter.

[@karmamarie2543]

I don’t know, Peter seemed pretty happy doing the Tudor Monastery farm without him.

[@SMC01ful]

FFS, why not discuss the ancient Welsh tribes the Roman's were fighting against. Little bit's like giving some folks a bacon sandwich is pretty bloody annoying. The Silures were savage bastard's they only get the odd mention.

[@ste1072]

God knows why they got rid of Stuart & replaced him with that knob Alex Langlands & Miss sado Mary Anne

[@sliewood]

Torbay 107 Totally agree. And it's Stewart. I got only 10 mins in and had to bail cos that crappy would-be Amazonian woman just annoys me to hell with her sycophantic giggly ignorance. And the bloke... yawn yawn. PS. That's the gorilla was on daddyhole plain int it?

[@ann-marieleonard1921]

@@sliewood Expect he left because he became a Professor at Chester Uni. He's 69 now.

[@sueclark5763]

Alex drives me crazy, he constantly repeats what someone just told him, he did that on the Farm Series also, his replacement,Tom, on that was actually much better. Ruth and Peter are fantastic in the series.

[@janvisser6236]

It’shhh a shhhimetrical shhhtone shhhitting in it’shhh shhhide on the shhhurface.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

Why is Dr. Guest wearing such an effeminate bracelet?

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

I'm dating YOUR DAD???

[@Jigger2361]

love gift from Alex

[@nigelprosser5692]

Five miles from my home ,,, fascinating .. 👍👏

[@gandamack1900]

good show👍😎

[@nhansen197]

And he doesn't call it a customs facility until the very end. I had it pegged as a customs facility by day two of the dig. It's a pity they only did three days as I don't know how they could hope to get any significant information from a site like this in only three days?

[@RKHageman]

N Hansen What they did for 20 years was survey archaeology. They were on site digging for three days because the archaeologists had academic responsibilities and courses to teach during the week.

[@quintessenz7974]

i can't get over the literal larp part in this episode XD

[@maddog2771]

Was here 2019

[@bigjohn7186]

I don't like the changes. I have all of these, but we watch no more.

[@scarletfluerr]

Guess you weren't here for the archeology or history then. It's still there, if people quit whining long enough.

[@RKHageman]

scarletfluerr Quite right.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

The addition of model Mary-Ann led Mich Aston to quit in disgust.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

+Barnaby ap Robert *Mick

[@smokeybear5460]

16:46 lmao

[@jenniferholden9397]

Princess Diana is more than those germans

[@granskare]

we've visited this place and I have a booklet so this is great for me :)

[@oliverwade8066]

dig site 51.606857,-2.956776

[@grahamwallace3744]

Cameraman likes the ladies

[@silverfrost1]

The white digital maps are hideous. All that computer power and they can't do colors of a landscape? It was better ten years before this season. TT is getting lazy by this point. Cardiff U has them in for three days as guests, and afterwards the real archaeology begins.

[@samflower31]

I love this show.

[@Dem0D1ck]

That gladiators were killed in gladiator games is largely a myth. Yes, gladiators were slaves; usually the captured soldiers of defeated enemies who were sold to and owned by private individuals. They were well trained and well fed, and had very good medical care. Buying and maintaining a gladiator cost a lot of money, so they were an investment. Gladiators were basically the Rock Star Athletes of their day, the owners didn't invest a couple thousand Denarius a year to train, feed and care for these people for the "fun" of seeing them die in competition. Think Spartacus, why were there so many Gladiators in the revolt if they were all being killed in Colosseums? Because they weren't killed in Gladiatorial combat, they were only bested by a more skillful opponent. And in a great majority of cases losing wasn't a death sentence, but winning brought you closer to freedom.

[@gman922]

Dem0D1ck Do not forget all the shagging that went on with the Ladies of the Senate.

[@Wotdermatter]

If you do proper and extensive research, you will soon find that many of the details in your comment are incorrect. Most of the gladiators were not slaves or captured soldiers of defeated enemies as you state. Many were, in fact, volunteers. This may surprise you, but some gladiators were senators and even a few were from the top nobles. Always check before making unfounded statements and never take what is produced in films (movies) and many trashy tv programmes as truthful because they just follow the traditional lines that have been copied ad nausea, and are usually inaccurate and incorrect.

[@silverfrost1]

No. Being a gladiator was disgraceful and extremely discouraged amongst the patricians.

[@silverfrost1]

The meaning of the word "bested" was to be killed in combat. Even the stars were killed off. Spectators were not there to see combat without conclusion. The only conclusion they wanted was to see a dead gladiator. If the owners were so concerned with saving their lives, then they would never have given them steel swords and spears to fight with.

[@elisabeth6108]

Demos1ck, what you write is consistent with what I have read at archaeology sites and museums on recent trips to Italy. Whoever was sponsoring the event would rent the gladiator and would have to pay a stiff penalty to the owner if the gladiator was killed. At the end of a bout the sponsor would have the option of showing mercy to the loser - and would usually do it to save himself a hefty penalty. Gladiators were looked down on socially but the good ones were also celebrities. Many died from wounds even if they were spared or even victors in a fight. It was a desperate way to make a living but some choose it anyways. Even if they weren't technically a slave (as many were) training was expensive so they would have had a master who footed the bill and essentially owned them.

[@darylbiggs5462]

It’s a cadet school

[@barbmcconnaughey3070]

Hel...lo Scott @20:00

[@willowhofmann7409]

I think Alex is a fantastic addition to the team. He's just wonderful. I'm flabbergasted at how good he is when it's no matter what he's doing. Even if it's just being.

[@nothingtonooneinparticular8500]

Just hated Marianne. Just have to skip every time when she's on scren. I mised the original team.

[@robrobert9541]

The myth of the gladiators that are forced to fight to the death seems to be difficult to overcome. I'm sure it happened occasionally, but for the most part they were a valuable investment that was too expensive and valuable to lose for the sake of entertainment. Also, the idea that Christians were thrown to the lions, or killed in amphitheatres has also been seriously challenged lately. There may have been isolated incidences of this happening from time to time, but it's now suspected that these claims were nothing more than propaganda promoted by the Catholic Church to make martyrs out of early Christians. The Church always loved a good martyr, and those stories are certainly powerful images.

[@zettle2345]

you been watching too much tv. lol clear out the prisons, or bring in captured enemy soldiers... tell them if they win or survive, they are free. maybe they kill them later. it's probably quite common, for the Romans to find enemies or criminals, who will be killed if they don't fight. it's not that hard to see how easy it would be to have a day of battle once a month or so.

[@lameesahmad9166]

I think there was a great difference in the amphitheatres in Rome proper and in the Roman occupied territories. Although it certainly would have been a theatrical spectacle for the people in Roman Britain, throwing Christians to the lions is probably stretching the truth quite a lot. I think zettle 234 has a good point.

[@lameesahmad9166]

I have read somewhere that gladiators who were particularly good in the ring gradually earned such a fan club that people would carve their marble god statues with the features of the gladiator who was the champ of the season. But as far as I know this only happened in Rome.

[@silverfrost1]

Why did gladiators use steel weapons instead of wooden ones if they were so valuable? Modern people can't get their heads around the fact that in ancient Rome life was cheap, and slavery was normal. We who are about to die salute you!

[@HO-bndk]

@@silverfrost1 "Those (not we) who are about to die" was said only once by condemned criminals to please Claudius. It had nothing to do with gladiators.

[@redpanda9659]

#timeteaminthe2020s

[@andrewbocho3896]

I do not like the new format: 1. Mary-Ann all teeth. Alex aka Del boy and why the intro? We are not Americans, we can follow the finds as they happen we don't need to be teased. Where is Helen and Casandra; brains as well as beauty.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

"new format"??? This was 11 years before your comment.

[@PaulMahon-w2b]

​@@AnnaAnna-uc2ffan from the USA, there are no alien rednecks at all!!!!!😂

[@ruthbowman5928]

On a future program, perhaps Joanna Lumley as a guest presenter on a dig in a location to which she has some connection? Thinking of her travel programs, and that she would treat the staff, crew and topic with respect and humor...and have the audience calling for more.

[@Hygearshrimp]

I never realised how many going looking college girls were into digging holes. I need to get myself a camper van and a trowel.

[@animerlon]

😀😁😂 Good luck with that.

[@tpseeker3367]

Yeah I'm sure they'd know how to bury a body as well as they can dig em up.

[@destroybilderbergeendillum3558]

Roman fortress just like the one at temple mount in Jerusalem. The jews praying to a Roman wall calling it " the wailing wall." Lol

[@blameusa7082]

Did he give Ratshard a bacon sandwich? What a gentleman.

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

I like Alex, but he is a bit of a weenie. Peter Ginn would have been better in this series. Is there a way to edit out Ochoa or whatever her name is. RUINS every episode it's in.

[@blameusa7082]

how can any one take that supervisor seriously...look at the fking state of it.