Raksha’s Site Diary: Time team in Cardiff

This week: Into the Wild (or, spending time with the mighty Pryor!)

Francis peers intently at Matt William’s work in Cardiff

We have already completed three episodes for series 20 of Time Team, and I feel like I’m always away from home in a trench! Two weeks ago I was in the wilds of Cardiff, and last week in sunny Hertfordshire.

The two sites – although very similar in community participation – were a complete juxtaposition. One was based near a Welsh estate, and the other was within the grounds of a public school.  We had children from the local schools visiting, and although the groups were from diverse social backgrounds, they were all captivated by the archaeology we were excavating.  Archaeology is the great leveler: whatever your background, it can suck you in and fascinate you.

Budding young archaeologists in Cardiff

Even after more than 15 years in archaeology, and ten years on Time Team, this is still the case for me. I feel as though I am walking in the shadow of giants.  This past few weeks, and for many to come, I will mostly be spending my weeks with the mighty Pryor.  Not only have we, the Dig Venturers, been handed the baton for Flaggers (no Olympic pun intended); I am also repeatedly subjected to wonderful stories from the golden age of archaeology.

Francis is a master storyteller; when you’re least expecting it, a random tale of dear old Sir Mortimer Wheeler will be proffered out like a shiny toffee.  I spent a wonderful couple of hours on the train with Francis last week, during which we discussed everything from politics to childhood memories. It made me realise that archaeology is the wonderful thing that has provided me with such an eclectic mix of friends and peers.

In the dim and distant past, archaeology was a past-time for a very certain kind of person; but now, it benefits from the diversity of people that work within the profession.  Of course it’s also about the people that enjoy learning about it, which to me seems like just about everyone I meet!

Archaeology now belongs to us all, and I am really proud to be part of two projects (Time Team and DigVentures) that help to bring archaeology to audiences around the world.