Ep 3. The New Town of a Norman Prince

In Season 1, Episode 3 of the British archaeological television series Time Team, the team travels to Lawrenny, a small village in Pembrokeshire, Wales to uncover the secrets of a colonial Norman town. The episode, titled "The New Town of a Norman Prince," originally aired on January 24, 1994, and runs for approximately 50 minutes.

The episode begins with presenter Tony Robinson giving an overview of the area's history, emphasizing the significance of Lawrenny's location along the River Cleddau. The team's mission is to investigate what was once a thriving settlement, newly founded by a Norman prince in the 12th century. The evidence of the town's existence was discovered during an aerial survey, and team leader Mick Aston details the challenges that lie ahead. The team must locate and excavate the town's castle, church, and marketplace to piece together a picture of what life was like for the town's inhabitants over 800 years ago.

The team starts with a geophysical survey to map the area's underground features, including possible roadways and buildings. The survey reveals the foundations of a large building, which team member Phil Harding believes to be a church. The team begins excavating the site, revealing a stone wall and foundation that matches what they would expect to see in a Norman church.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team is exploring the area around the church, uncovering evidence of cobblestone streets and buildings. They find shards of pottery that they carefully date back to the 12th century, a key piece of evidence in confirming the town's age.

Throughout the episode, the team encounters several challenges, including heavy rain that leaves the site muddy and difficult to work on. Despite these setbacks, they continue making progress in their search for the town's castle and marketplace.

To provide context for the archaeology, the team also consults with local historians and experts on Norman history. They discuss what life was like for the town's inhabitants, the political climate of the region, and the implications of the town's location near the river and sea.

As the episode progresses, the team pieces together a more complete picture of what life was like in the town over 800 years ago. They uncover the castle, which once served as both a residence and a stronghold for the town's governor. They also find evidence of the marketplace, including nails that likely secured market stalls. The team becomes increasingly excited as their discoveries confirm the town's importance as a center of commerce and power in the region.

The episode concludes with the team's findings and speculations about the larger implications of their discoveries. The team is elated at what they were able to find and truly believe that the uncovering of the site will lead to even more insights into how people in this region lived centuries ago.

Overall, Season 1, Episode 3 of Time Team provides fascinating insight into a lesser-known chapter in British history. With its combination of expert analysis, hands-on excavation, and teamwork, the episode captures the spirit of the show and is a great introduction to the series for new audiences.