Chat Ed : OK folks we'll get cracking in about a minute...
Tony Robinson : A big thank you to everyone who is logged on. It's great to know that people take the programme so seriously that they are even prepared to chase us up afterwards on their computers!
Samantha : TONY we are not worthy big kisses
Sandi Toksvig : On a scale of 1-10 I am excited to number 10 about doing this web chat.
Tony Robinson chuckles
Cyndi Lauper Tea Bag : o0oh we're glad to have you Sandi
Sandi Toksvig chuckles
Chat Ed : OKayyy...first question:
Janine : Hello Sandy and Tony! Just wondering, why when finds are excavated are they sketched? Wouldn't it be easier to photograph them? Or is this not done for a specific reason?
Tony Robinson : Usually Time Team does both. It is certainly true that you can get a more life-like picture from the photo, but a drawing can indicate spacial relationships and bring it to life in a way that a photo simply can't.
Ian R : Hello Tony - I've always wanted to know if you have ever helped out with the digging and do you own your own trowel? :)
Tony Robinson : I sometimes do help out in the digging. But what is most important is that we send out the message that excavating is a skill and you need time and trained people to do it. Although I am an enthusiast, skillful I aint! And we don't want to show bad practice on the tele.
lindsey : hiya Sandi (big fan) how did you get envolved in time team?
Sandi Toksvig : Basically they asked me, but this is my 4th year with the show, so I can't have made too much of a mess of it. Also I studied archaeology at University.
Adrian : I must have missed an important bit of the program, where would they have sourced the silver for the original bucket?
Sandi Toksvig : I don't think it's silver I think it's tin. The original bucket came from Antioch and Tony and I don't know the tin source there. Perhaps 1500 years ago there was a shop called Tin Plate-R-Us in Antioch, we will ask an expert tomorrow! Tony says he knows quite a good kebab shop in Ephesus.
Philip : Tony, living reasonably local to the site, I am aware of there being a Saxon church in the nearby village. Are you planning to discuss any links between the village and the site?
Tony Robinson : Yes. It is certainly something that Mick is very enthusiastic about. Hopefully he and Stuart will talk about it in our much longer programme tomorrow. The only problem is the finds that have started coming out are so fantastic, there's the possibility that this kind of background info will be squeezed out of the programme, but I hope it isn't.
paulp : An amazing dig at a valuble site. How will it be protected and/or progressed after you leave tomorrow?
Tony Robinson : We never dig a site unless it's in partnership with the local archaeological units. They will take responsibility for its protection and conservation. Having said that, so-called night hawks (ie. thieves) have attempted to plunder this site in the past. I just hope people will be sensible and responsible in the future.
Dealy : What will happen to the finds from the site, would the be donated to the local museum, or historical society??
Tony Robinson : The bucket will go to the local museum service and the replica will be exhibited beside it. The other finds will be distributed across the county at different museums, but they will all stay local.
pablo : how much prior information do the team have about each site you dig - presumably your digs are based on research and practical work by other archaeologists?
Tony Robinson : We have 4 researchers of our own, who do a lot of prior work on and around the sites we visit. Our archaeologists and historians do a little prior briefing work, but each site is always a surprise, particularly for the 2 of us, who have no idea what we are going to be confronted with. Sandi took a bow in her theatre in Edinburgh at 7:30pm the night before we started and turned up on site virtually clueless!
Neil Cole : Does Time Team ever use volunteers to help at sites? If so, how can we get involved?
Sandi Toksvig : There often appears to be an army of volunteer vagabonds in the background but that is the fashion look of post-graduate students of archaeology. Almost everyone on site apart from Tony and me is highly skilled. It's not really, unfortunately, a volunteer sort of exercise. However if you join a Time Team club you have got the opportunity to go in for a competition with a first prize of a 3 day visit to a Time Team excavation. If anyone would like to volunteer to do Tony's garden, it would be most welcome. (Tony is now worried he is going to get letters - I was only kidding!)
mandi : How do you join a Time Team club?
Sandi Toksvig : Check the website for details.
Colin : Tonight you mentioned that you needed special persmission to lift the remains, why is this as they are so old.
Sandi Toksvig : The remains are still those of human beings, and there is no time deadline for having respect for the deceased. The Home Office take the exhumation of all peoples, whether they died in the last 2 minutes or in the last millennium, extremely seriously.
Jason reid : Hello Sandi and Tony, another great show, can you tell me if you are currently working on a new series, or do you have a cunning plan for something else?
Tony Robinson : Phil and I have just got back from Montana where we have been making a documentary about excavating dinosaurs. I've made 2 documentaries about digs in Canterbury and 1 in London. I'm off next week to make a programme about excavating a wreck and 13 more Time Teams are planned for transmission in the new year. Tomorrow Sandi goes back to sitting in a shop doorway with her dog.
Sandi Toksvig laughs
David Hebbes : Are there any intentions to do a Time Team abroad. Perhaps in Egypt?
Tony Robinson : I'm always trying to persuade Channel 4 to give us the budget to go to exotic places. Usually they politely decline my request. I can't think why... But Phil and I did do the Montana shoot, so I can't really complain. Sandi and I are proposing Sex, Sunsets and Spade Work in the Caribbean, keep your fingers crossed for us!
Ian Cawood : But what is that object in trench five - you can't leave it 24 hours before you tell us!!!
Sandi Toksvig : Hand on my heart we don't know. The light was fading and the one thing you don't do with something which appears so enticing, is to rush the excavation. It has probably been there for 1500 years and it will still be there in the morning. But Katie who found it will almost certainly get no sleep tonight, because she is so excited.
Chat Ed : Our half hour is nearly up now, so last three questions thanks!
Trevor Stevens : Will you be digging the big Circle from the new geophysics
Oliver : Whats the big circle??????!!!!!!!!
Sandi Toksvig : We are going to dig the Circle, but obviously until we do we have no idea what it is.
Martin williams : When you are digging up bones, aren'y you worried about what they died of, I believe viruses such as Anthrax can survive in the ground for centuries?
dislecksick : what happens to the human remains when you finish?
Sandi Toksvig : We don't know if you can get Anthrax, but Tony does have a slight headache. Margaret Cox, who is in charge, is hugely experienced, so we will sue her if something happens!
Nick : that'll be the beer!!
Sandi Toksvig : The bones will be treated with great respect and eventually stored in one of two bone stores, either consecrated or not, depending on whether we can determine if these are Christian or Pagan burials.
Chat Ed : And finally:
jackie : as the mother of three young boys who think timeteam is one of the best shows on t v . so much so they play it in the feilds at the back of our house with the eldest takeing on the role of tony.can you tell me if there are any products available in kid speak to encourage and hopefully develope this interest.and where will i get them from.
Tony Robinson chuckles
Oliver : rrrrr thats so cute
Tony Robinson : We feel quite strongly that rather than create special programmes or products for young children we want to invite them to share in the programmes which we are producing for everyone. One of the things that has excited us most is that very young children watch our programme, which has some very difficult concepts in it, and are enthralled by it. The best way that we know of to give further encouragement to children is to get them to join the junior archaeology club and/or the Time Team Club.
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks Tony and Sandi - fascinating stuff! And thanks for all your questions, everyone!
Keith Birch : Chat Ed can you thank all the channel 4 staff and Toniy and Sandie for appearing on here tonight :) I think I can safely say from all of us we are gratefull for the chance to speak :)
Peter Turner : Bye Tony, Sandi! Kiss kiss!
Martyn : Tony and Sandi, thanks for the excellent programs..... keep up the good work!!
Chedaholic Ched : cya later Tony.. Rock On!!!!!!
Matt Gregory : Thanks very much!
Aaron : god bless
HampshireHog : Thank you please come again
HelenL : Love the programmes and enthusiasm, happy digging, thanks for the chat
alastair : love the show thanx for the entertainment
RJ : Sandi, Tony, Thanks for the chat, am looking forwards to tomorrows hour long programme!
Ian R : Thanks Tony!!!
Tony Robinson : We're knackered so we're going to have an early night, tomorrow is our big day with an hour long programme. We hope you'll join us.
Nick : thanks Tony and sandi. keep up the good work
christine : THHNK YOU!!
Sandi Toksvig leaves the room
Tony Robinson leaves the room
Chat Ed : You can buy the latest book to accompany the show, entitled 'Behind The Scenes At Time Team' from the Channel 4 online shop - at www.channel4.com/shop!
