25th February 2006, 02:19 PM
There was a BBC Chronicle programme in the early 80s about the Billingsgate excavations which showed both the excavation and post-excavation processes and also the meetings with the developers (or 'property speculators' as they were called in those days).
The most memorable scene was when the muddy diggers were gathered round besuited man stabding on box, who announced that the site had been granted an extension of several months. It is rumoured that there was at least 2 takes of this scene because first time round said muddy diggers refused to applaud!!
More recently the Time Team special from Ely presented the most accurate portrayal of winter-time fenland archaeology (which must have deterred at least three-years worth of archaeology students from ever wanting to get their hands dirty) and it would have been nice to have seen the un-broadcast footage of the Gresham Street excavations, particularly that featuring the site directors glove puppets!!
Msrcus Brigstock's 'We are History' is of course the greatest and most accurate archaeological programme ever.
The most memorable scene was when the muddy diggers were gathered round besuited man stabding on box, who announced that the site had been granted an extension of several months. It is rumoured that there was at least 2 takes of this scene because first time round said muddy diggers refused to applaud!!
More recently the Time Team special from Ely presented the most accurate portrayal of winter-time fenland archaeology (which must have deterred at least three-years worth of archaeology students from ever wanting to get their hands dirty) and it would have been nice to have seen the un-broadcast footage of the Gresham Street excavations, particularly that featuring the site directors glove puppets!!
Msrcus Brigstock's 'We are History' is of course the greatest and most accurate archaeological programme ever.