Time Team Season 3 Episode 3 Templecombe

In Time Team season 3 episode 3, titled Templecombe, the team headed to Somerset to explore the remains of a medieval manor. The manor was believed to have been built on top of a Saxon settlement, raising the possibility of finding artifacts from both periods.

The team began the excavation by digging a test trench in the courtyard area, hoping to find evidence of the manor house. After some initial finds, including a piece of medieval pottery, they decided to expand the trench to cover more ground.

As they dug deeper, they discovered a large stone-lined cellar, leading them to believe that they had found the remains of the manor's kitchen. Further excavation of the area revealed more medieval pottery and evidence of a large fire, possibly from the time of the manor's destruction.

The team also explored the surrounding area, hoping to find evidence of the earlier Saxon settlement. They identified a nearby stream as a potential source of freshwater for the settlement and dug a trench along its course. Here, they found evidence of human activity dating back to the Saxon period, including a piece of bone from a settlement-era animal and a small, carved stone.

As the excavation continued, the team began to piece together a picture of the manor and its inhabitants. They identified a pit in the area of the kitchen as a possible latrine and found evidence of a brewery nearby, suggesting that the manor was a self-sufficient community.

In addition to the archaeological finds, the team also interacted with the local community, including members of the Somerset Caving Club who helped with the dig. They also spoke with a resident who had an interesting theory about the manor's collapse, attributing it to a curse from a woman jilted by the lord of the manor.

Throughout the episode, the team encountered several challenges, including heavy rain and an unexpected water flow from the nearby stream. However, they persevered and uncovered a wealth of knowledge about the manor and its history.

In the end, the team packed up their excavation site and reflected on what they had learned. As always, the episode ended with Tony Robinson summing up the team's findings and expressing his excitement for their next excavation.