Classic Time Team Season 9 Episode 4 The Naughty Monastery

The Naughty Monastery is the fourth episode of season nine of Classic Time Team. The episode follows the Time Team as they investigate a monastery in Pilton, Somerset. The monastery was founded in the 10th century and was believed to have been a place of religious devotion and contemplation. However, recent research suggests that the monks who lived there were not as devout as previously thought.

The Time Team is tasked with uncovering the true nature of the monastery and determining whether or not the monks who lived there were as "naughty" as the rumors suggest. To do so, they embark on a three-day excavation.

The team starts their investigation by exploring a lily pond located on the monastery grounds. They use a technique called resistivity to scan the pond and detect any buried structures. The team discovers that the pond had been man-made and that it was likely used by the monks as a fish pond.

Next, the team investigates the main building of the monastery, which was inhabited by the monks. They quickly discover a number of artifacts that suggest that the monks were not as pious as they were made out to be. For instance, the team finds a set of dice and a game board, which suggests that the monks engaged in gambling. They also find a large number of animal bones, which suggests that the monks were not following strict religious dietary restrictions.

The team also finds evidence that suggests that the monks were involved in metalworking. They discover a pit containing iron slag, which indicates that metalworking was taking place on the premises.

The most significant discovery comes when the team uncovers a large building that was likely used as a brewery. The team discovers a number of brewing vessels, including a large vat used for brewing ale. This discovery suggests that the monks were engaged in brewing beer, which would have been a significant source of income for the monastery.

As the investigation comes to a close, the team concludes that the rumors about the naughty monks are likely true. While some of the artifacts could have been brought to the site by visitors, the large number of finds and the discovery of the brewing building suggests that the monks were not as pious as they were made out to be.

The Naughty Monastery is an entertaining and educational episode of Classic Time Team. The investigation is thorough and the discoveries are fascinating. The team does an excellent job of revealing the true nature of the monastery and the behavior of the monks who lived there. Anyone interested in history or archaeology will enjoy this episode.