Ep 5. Plympton, Devon

In season 6 episode 5 of Time Team, the team heads to Plympton, Devon, to investigate the history of the town's old churchyard. The church of St. Maurice has been on the site since the 12th century, but the churchyard itself dates back even further. The team is tasked with uncovering evidence of the area's pre-Christian past and determining the age of the churchyard.

The team begins by mapping out the churchyard and identifying the areas where they believe they will find the most evidence. The first few days are spent digging test pits to confirm their suspicions and get a sense of what lies beneath the surface. Slowly but surely, the team begins to uncover evidence of human activity dating as far back as the Bronze Age.

As they dig deeper, the team unearths a wealth of artifacts, including pottery fragments, tools, and even a Roman coin. These discoveries provide crucial clues to the area's history and suggest that Plympton was an important settlement long before the church was built.

But as the team delves deeper into the churchyard, they encounter a mystery that has them stumped. A large stone slab, known as a ledger stone, is discovered at the site of a previously unknown burial. The stone is marked with intricate carvings and symbols that are difficult to decipher. Even the team's resident expert on medieval art struggles to make sense of it.

To solve the mystery, the team enlists the help of a local expert on church history. Together, they study the symbols and try to determine the meaning behind them. Eventually, they reach a breakthrough and uncover the identity of the person buried beneath the ledger stone.

Throughout the episode, the team faces numerous challenges, from bad weather to the sheer complexity of the site. But with their characteristic blend of expertise and perseverance, they make significant discoveries that shed new light on Plympton's rich history.

Overall, Time Team season 6 episode 5 provides a fascinating glimpse into the past of a small English town. The team's dedication to uncovering even the smallest details of the site helps build a picture of life in the area hundreds of years ago. And the unexpected twists and turns of the investigation keep viewers engaged from start to finish.