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Jennifer Wood
When did you first start watching Time Team?
I started watching Time Team when I was at university. To be honest, when I first started the course, I had a no idea what archaeology was or what archaeologists did so I started watching Time Team as a bit of a crash course introduction as to what I had signed up for. Once I got the hang of it, I then managed to convince myself that watching Time Team was the equivalent to an hour of studying! Ha ha!
What do you enjoy most about it?
I liked the fact that, having never been on a dig, I was able to watch the program and see the things I was learning about being put into practice. It helped me to see the bigger picture of an excavation and meant that when I went on my first dig, I had a rough idea what was expected of me so I didn't look as big a fool as I felt.
I also liked the fact that I could watch it with my family and friends and they could understand what I did and what I was learning, and my mum could understand why I was coming home mucky all of the time.
Have you ever been on an archaeological dig before?
Yes. I have volunteered twice with the Museum of Scotland to carry out rescue archaeology on Traprain Law in East Lothian. It was an amazing experience because I learned so much about Scottish archaeology but also because excavations are so restricted there, an it is such an archaeologically rich landscape, that it really was a fantastic opportunity to be able to take part in it.
What do you think is the most remarkable archaeological find in the world?
Hmmm... well, I suppose everybody who has been on a dig thinks that their first ever find was the most remarkable, even if it is only a bit of charcoal! But, apart from my own amazing piece of roman tableware, a close second would be the discovery of African Eve which led to the studies into mitochondrial DNA and for us to discover that all humans are derived from a single origin.
And the UK?
When I started archaeology, I had visions of myself digging in lovely hot countries and getting a suntan while I was at it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I fell in love with the archaeology of cold, rainy, misty Scotland. I don't think it's possible for me to pick one remarkable site in Scotland because I think that each one is fascinating and is equally as valuable as any other.
If you could dig anywhere in the world where would you choose?
I would love it if more of Traprain Law could be opened up for excavation because so much valuable archaeology is being lost through fire damage and rabbit burrowing. A lot has been learned from the site, but I think there is still a lot more that could be discovered.
How do you feel about taking part in the Big Royal Dig?
I'm pretty excited. It will be the last archaeological dig I can take part in for a while until I get settled into the navy an find out what excavations etc. are going on in the area I'm based at so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in! I expect I'll have a great time because the other competition winners will be looking forward to it as much as I am, so there will hopefully be a few laughs.
As for finding anything, one of my lecturers once gave me a great piece of advice, to go with the flow and celebrate everything you find, that way, you will never be disappointed. I quite like that as an archaeological philosophy.
