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21st January 2011, 01:28 PM
Did anybody watch this last night on Channel 4. I thought it was mildly interesting for the fact that you got to watch modern builders come to terms with classical methods (and suffering), but i'd seen most of that in the past on site.
I'll watch more to see if they come up with anything interesting. But it could do without Prof. Dai Morgan Evans, who no doubt has worthy ideas, but watching him have a paddy over wheel barrows was the kind of thing that gives all Roman archaeologicsts a bad name. Insisting the brickies do it by habd only seemed a bit harsh, as he seemed to forget they might have had donkeys or simply more labour to help.
But anyway, if you watched, what did you think? :face-stir:
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21st January 2011, 01:36 PM
Thought much the same as you - the prof is being a tad unreasonable. 6 blokes to do all that work? And to work outside their specialisms? How inauthentic is that? :face-stir:
Must admit, my first thought when I read about it was "This isn't original, they did this at Butser a few years back" (though to be fair that wasn't with professional builders). My second thought was "I hope they've sorted the archaeology first" (Having worked at Wroxeter way back in the dim & distant).
The builders are a nice enough bunch, the prof is going to be a major irritant.
You can always tell a Brummie... but you can't tell him much
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21st January 2011, 02:47 PM
... and funnily enough it was Dai Morgan Evans overseeing the Butser project too, but back then on the Discovery channel. If at first you don't succeed...
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21st January 2011, 03:23 PM
Slaves, thats what they need. Lots and lots of slaves. Then some fancy bloke from the eastern empire to bung in the mosaic.
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21st January 2011, 04:06 PM
The prof did make me cringe. I understand his point, but it becomes ludicrous when you consider that he was apparently OK with 6 blokes building the entire thing. The tantrum when he didn't get his way makes me think he doesn't work in the commercial field.
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21st January 2011, 04:07 PM
The prof did the image of archaeology no service,really. More Marcus Brody than Indiana Jones, and a bit of a PITA for what people will perceive as the wrong reasons, especially after seeing Time Team use diggers and wheelbarrows. We were amazed at the idea of six men having to do everything from stonework to moving materials. Otherwise, it was a good watch from a 'civilian' point of view. We're wondering what will appear on the one builder's t-shirts next, we think he has a bet with a friend who owns a t-shirt printing company.
Prime practitioner of headology, with a side order of melting glass with a stern glare.
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21st January 2011, 08:15 PM
Don't have a TV...did they mention concrete and mortar types at all???
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
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21st January 2011, 08:33 PM
They made their own lime putty and used the recipe for mortar that sets underwater after first making mortar that didn't set at all.
You can watch it online, you know.... just for the fun of it.
Prime practitioner of headology, with a side order of melting glass with a stern glare.
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23rd January 2011, 12:08 PM
I was away on an esoteric meander... so I will have to watch this online.... sounds a hoot!
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23rd January 2011, 01:07 PM
I may have just wet myself laughing....
"I have read books - the romans had no wheelbarrows" has to be the best line from a professor :p
