Time Team: The Team's Favorite Digs

Archaeological digs are no walk in the park.  Precision, patience, and a great deal of physical effort are required for everything to go off without a hitch.  Digs can take months, years, and in some extreme cases, even decades to complete.  Now imagine cramming all of that into just three days.  In a race against time, the long-running U.K. science series Time Team often uncovers buried history while providing viewers with endless fascination.

Hosted by Tony Robinson of Blackadder fame, Time Team gathers a group of experts together to conduct excavations.  The team consists of archaeologists (including the late Mick Aston, whose colorful sweater collection would make Cliff Huxtable jealous), historians, surveyors, geophysicists, and several others depending on that particular dig.  Sites are often suggested by viewers claiming to know about undiscovered items or landowners who think something interesting might be on their property.  Over the course of almost 20 years on television, Time Team has discovered Roman Villas, artifacts from the Bronze/Iron Ages, and, in more recent history, effects from World War II.

Time Team: The Team's Favorite Digs boasts eight episodes spanning three DVDs.  Each expert was allowed to select their personal favorite episode for this collection.  Aston's favorite dig set in Llygadwy, Wales revolves around a property which seemingly contains a Neolithic Tomb, an old ritual spring, and the remains of a Norman Tower.  I'm not about to spoil the fun, but the team discovers some pretty interesting stuff.  Robinson is a smart, down-to-Earth host who explains everything in layman's terms so all viewers can easily understand.  Watching the cast of experts work together in often hectic conditions is entertaining whether they are unearthing artifacts together or bickering over the next possible course of action.  Another standout episode involves a dig in Wierre-Effrey, France.  During World War II, a French Spitfire plane allegedly crashed in a field.  No investigation was ever conducted even though there were eyewitness accounts.  With their usual group of experts, Time Team was able to uncover the truth and give some peace to a surviving family member of the pilot.

Each disc included in this set has its own bonus feature.  One disc has the entire pilot episode of Time Team while the other two discs each contain the follow-up specials on the episodes the cast selected as their favorites.  Also included in the package is a booklet containing several articles relevant to the digs and a helpful glossary of terms.  Science buffs and anyone who grew up dreaming about becoming an archaeologist will love Time Team: The Team’s Favorite Digs.  Highly recommended.