Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Goodbye 'Mr Archaeology'

Professor Mick Aston who died today

When Channel 4 decided to launch an hour long Sunday tea-time show about a group of archaeology experts and assorted diggers presented by (Sir) Tony Robinson back in 1994 it was one of those strokey beard moments - in more ways than one.

Led by Professor Mick Aston, and accompanied by a group who were unknowns beyond the world of archaeology including Phil Harding, Francis Pryor and Carenza Lewis, the show brought the phrase 'we'll put a trench in over there' into the lexicon of well loved television phrases. Tony Robinson's role was to act as chief inquisitor, public go between and occasional mischief maker, he asked the questions those of us watching at home wanted to know as well as opening and closing each programme.

Despite its scheduling the programme made little or no attempt to treat its audience as grown-up children, whilst at the same time recognising that a little explanation would go a long way in helping make what could have been a very dry subject (no pun intended) much more accessible. Mick Aston knew instinctively that the show wasn't about him or his colleagues but about sharing his love of the subject, passing on his knowledge, the fact that he became so well known and well loved was simply a by-product of his ability to communicate, there was none of the 'look at me' style of television that now dominates the schedules.

Between 1994 and 2012, when Mick Aston left over what he perceived to be a 'dumbing down' by Channel 4 in its choice of new presenter, the three day digs covered every period of the history of the British Isles from the Palaeolithic period through to the discovery of a Spitfire in Northern France.

Like all good informative television programmes, I think Time Team helped change the way we look at and think about the world around us. Those aren't just bumps, they could be barrows, those dark circles of earth in the forest might be evidence of a round house, those lines on the field in summer an example of an iron age settlement.

Beyond the world of television Professor Mick Aston had studied geography and then archaeology at Birmingham, he had written books and papers on the subject closest to his heart as well as being Professor of Landscape Archaeology at Bristol University, leading various digs which helped us understand a little  more about these islands and in 2012 he received an award for his contribution to archaeology. 

4 comments:

oakleyses said...

north face, nike air max uk, sac hermes, hollister uk, nike air force, louboutin pas cher, michael kors, oakley pas cher, converse pas cher, abercrombie and fitch uk, hollister pas cher, nike free run, jordan pas cher, nike tn, burberry pas cher, longchamp pas cher, timberland pas cher, nike air max, polo ralph lauren, nike roshe, lululemon canada, ralph lauren uk, true religion outlet, guess pas cher, vans pas cher, sac longchamp pas cher, nike air max uk, true religion jeans, hogan outlet, north face uk, new balance, air max, ray ban pas cher, nike free uk, true religion outlet, nike blazer pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, michael kors pas cher, ray ban uk, polo lacoste, michael kors outlet, mulberry uk

oakleyses said...

hollister clothing, giuseppe zanotti outlet, lululemon, wedding dresses, abercrombie and fitch, hermes belt, asics running shoes, bottega veneta, celine handbags, soccer shoes, valentino shoes, ferragamo shoes, vans outlet, mcm handbags, timberland boots, nike roshe run uk, longchamp uk, nike air max, north face outlet, p90x workout, new balance shoes, insanity workout, iphone 6 cases, herve leger, instyler, oakley, hollister, nike huaraches, soccer jerseys, nike trainers uk, babyliss, chi flat iron, ghd hair, baseball bats, jimmy choo outlet, mont blanc pens, north face outlet, mac cosmetics, beats by dre, nfl jerseys, reebok outlet, nike roshe run

oakleyses said...

ralph lauren, vans, gucci, pandora jewelry, ray ban, hollister, ugg, swarovski crystal, links of london, lancel, toms shoes, juicy couture outlet, montre pas cher, pandora uk, replica watches, converse outlet, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, coach outlet, ugg uk, hollister, ugg pas cher, uggs outlet, ugg boots, supra shoes, pandora charms, marc jacobs, louboutin, thomas sabo, juicy couture outlet, ugg boots, karen millen uk, uggs outlet, converse, swarovski, uggs on sale, nike air max, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, wedding dresses

oakleyses said...

michael kors outlet store, coach purses, prada outlet, nike air max, michael kors outlet online, chanel handbags, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet, coach outlet, replica watches, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses wholesale, longchamp outlet, christian louboutin uk, michael kors outlet online, kate spade outlet, burberry handbags, ray ban sunglasses, coach outlet, tiffany jewelry, oakley sunglasses, nike free, nike air max, christian louboutin, kate spade, nike outlet, christian louboutin outlet, christian louboutin shoes, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, polo outlet, burberry outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet online, tory burch outlet, michael kors outlet, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet, true religion outlet, gucci handbags, coach outlet store online, prada handbags, michael kors outlet online