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Time Team America takes a group of archeologists and scientists and puts them in a tough situation: they have just 72 hours to investigate a site and report back on their findings. Archaeology is both time and labor intensive. Some sites can take months or even years to excavate properly. With only three days to work with, Time Team brings on specialists and experts in order to hone in on key aspects of a site that we can focus a lot of attention on in little time. This allows us to get results without sacrificing the science.Time Team America uses the same processes and techniques as other archaeologists. So how do they expect to learn anything useful in three days? Some scientists express skepticism about the three-day format. How can you fast-track real science? Isn't speed the enemy of truth? Time Team's archaeologists feel the pressure more than anyone, yet they're able to stand behind all of the archaeology that happens in that busy three-day window.
It's a matter of focus. Time Team's goal is not to make sensationalistic case-closing pronouncements about complex archaeological matters. Instead, they try to uncover new leads that will help archaeologists in their future excavations and research.
The team also brings in technology, additional experts, and crew that most digs couldn't otherwise afford. With these additional resources they can quickly analyze and investigate a few key questions about the site. When the cameras stop rolling, the team leaves behind an archaeologist to close out any outstanding work and complete the documentation.
It's a win-win situation. The archaeologists at the sites Time Team America visits get some extra muscle and critical data to help them advance their research. The audience gets to experience archaeology as it happens, minus the sore knees and blisters.
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If you've visited the U.K. in the past fifteen years or so, you may
have been shocked at how much the general population knows about the
science of archaeology. Why are the ladies at the tea shop chatting
about ground penetrating radar? You could assume it's because the
Brits are just more interested in their history, but we think it's
because of a certain very entertaining TV series on Channel 4.This summer, Time Team is launching an invasion onto (actually under) American soil. We've found the smartest, most adventurous archaeologists in the U.S. and sent them out to five of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the lower forty-eight. Just like the Brits, we gave them three days at each location to map it out, dig it up, get dirty, and show us what we've got on this side of the pond.
What did they find? Wild West relics, 1,000 year old native villages, stories of freed slaves, Paleo-Indian tools, and maybe even the lost colony at Roanoke. It was an unbelievable summer. We can't wait to share it with you.
Stay tuned for all the dirt! And tell your friends, Time Team is coming to America.
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