Hamsterley, County Durham
First screened 16 March 2008

Q&A

Time Team's new digger Naomi Sewpaul answers our questions.

What's your favourite Time Team dig?
Although I'm a newcomer to the Time Team camp, this question is easy. I would have to say Barra, Outer Hebrides. Everything about it was amazing: the location, the scenery, the archaeology – everything! I'd only ever seen sites like this in textbooks, so I felt privileged to be a part of this.

What's your favourite Time Team find?
I'm not usually very lucky when it comes to finding 'exciting' finds. I'm usually happy finding piles of animal bones (being a crazy animal-bone lady, as my friends call me). However, excavating a child's cist burial, again on Barra, was rather special for me. There was also quite a nice brooch/pin from Binchester, but I was only stood next to the person that found it, so I guess that doesn't count.

What's the most important Time Team discovery?
Hmm … that's a tricky one. In my mind all Time Team discoveries are important (even when we find nothing!) because they reveal a little more about a certain time period or part of the country each time. Ultimately, each discovery tells us more and more about people in the past, which is why we are all in this line of work.

What's your best Time Team moment?
They've all been good! For me, Barra was a particularly special place as it was a site and part of the world that I'd never experienced before. The best thing about Time Team is having the opportunity to excavate a range of sites that may not otherwise be possible, especially if it opens up an opportunity for further research.

What's your favourite archaeological site in the UK?
The Yorkshire Wolds as a whole holds a special place in my heart, as this is where I began excavating at the tender age of 15. In terms of a specific site, it would have to be Avebury or West Kennet Long Barrow in Wiltshire. Again, these were places that I had only ever seen as glossy photographs in textbooks, but when I finally visited them, they were unbelievably breathtaking.

And abroad?
I've worked in Pompeii and in Mesolithic cave sites in Spain, which were quite spectacular, but last year I visited Teotihuacán in Mexico. Climbing the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and looking down on the Avenue of the Dead, made a real impact on me. So far, this is my favourite site abroad.

Who's your archaeological hero?
Dr Robinson of course! No, seriously, I don't have a particular archaeological hero. My 'heroes' are those that have taught me well over the years, especially my PhD supervisors, who at the moment must have the patience of a saint to put up with me!

What's your favourite archaeology book?
Anything to do with bones that will help me become a better archaezoologist!

If you could travel to one moment in time, where to and when?
The Iron Age, on the Yorkshire Wolds. There's some crazy stuff going on out there!

If you could dig one site, what would it be?
I like digging anywhere, but to excavate the part of Pompeii that's still under ash would be fun. Imagine if there was something completely different under there …

If you could make one find, what would it be?
I'd like to have a go at making some Celtic gold jewellery that can be seen in the Archaeology and History Museum, Dublin. How did they manage to make it so fine and delicate?

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