Ep 5. Warriors

Time Team Season 20 Episode 5, titled Warriors, takes us on an exciting journey back in time as the team explores a site believed to have been involved in some of the most iconic battles of the Anglo-Saxon era. Led by historian Marc Morris and leading archaeologist Professor Carenza Lewis, the team sets out to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the ground.

The episode starts with the team arriving at a location near Edix Hill, believed to have been an essential strategic area during the Anglo-Saxon period. The team quickly gets to work, using state-of-the-art equipment to explore the area. With the help of ground-penetrating radar and other tools, the team starts to uncover some interesting features hidden beneath the ground.

As the team digs deeper, they discover some remarkable artifacts that hint at the historical significance of the area. The excavation unearths several pieces of weaponry, including arrowheads, swords, and shields. The team analyses these pieces in great detail, providing insights into how these weapons were made and the types of metal used in their construction.

The team then turns to Carenza Lewis to unravel the mystery of the site's history. At this point, Lewis' exhaustive knowledge and experience in the field come to the fore. She relies on her expertise to identify and interpret the artifacts found, and draw conclusions from them.

Lewis and the team piece together evidence that suggests the site was a significant military base for the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. They hypothesize that it was this base that supported Alfred the Great's campaign against the Vikings, an essential turning point in British history.

The team also finds a large ditch at the site, which adds to the significance of the discovery, and they believe this ditch was constructed as a fortification to protect the Anglo-Saxon soldiers during the battles. Lewis analyzes the deep ditch, which required a vast workforce to build, and deduces that it was probably dug using a system of human chains. Her investigation and archaeological analysis of the remnants paint a vivid picture of the battle that took place at the location.

The episode explores several other aspects of the Anglo-Saxon era, including their social structures, housing, and lifestyles. Through careful archaeology, we gain insights into how these early people lived, how they protected themselves from danger, and how their weapons and tools evolved over time.

As always, the show is informative and well-produced, with breathtaking cinematography and engaging storytelling. The result is a fascinating glimpse into Britain's early history and a newfound appreciation for the people who lived there centuries ago.

Overall, Time Team Season 20 Episode 5 is an exciting adventure that takes us back in time, uncovering secrets and shedding light on one of Britain's defining periods. It's a fascinating look at the world of the Anglo-Saxons and a must-watch for anyone with an interest in history and archaeology.