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Abstract
This article examines the experiential values of archaeological television, through the case study of Time Team. It proposes a framework of analysis and provides new evidence to demonstrate how this TV series has contributed to the construction of the current public understanding of archaeology. By exploring the composition of the more dedicated audience of Time Team and their viewing experiences, it is argued that television can facilitate inclusive kinds of engagement with the past, and offer meaningful opportunities for learning. Based on the research outcomes, the conclusions will consider possible scenarios for the future of the audiovisual communication of archaeology in the UK.
Notes
1 This research identified the kinds of heritage television that were more popular amongst the British public between 2005 and 2006, and explored the socio-demographics of heritage television viewers. Amongst other findings, the paper demonstrated that heritage television was succeeding in engaging socially disadvantaged sections of the population but not younger audiences. It also highlighted the need for further analysis to detail and explain these results by comparing heritage television viewing with heritage museum visitation.
2 The page may be accessed at: <https://www. facebook.com/pages/Time-Team/10174003972?fref=ts>. The reasons for selecting this fan page in particular are explained in the Methodology section of this paper.
3 Respondents were asked to select one option amongst: primary; lower secondary; upper secondary; professional qualification or other diploma; university first degree; university post-graduate diploma/degree.
4 Respondents’ age and country of origin were investigated via open questions, and answers were coded in the phase following data collection.
5 Respondents were given the possibility of selecting one or more options amongst: I had planned to watch the episode out of a SPECIALIST interest in archaeology or history; I had planned to watch the episode out of a GENERAL interest in archaeology or history; I had planned to watch the episode out of an interest in the history of the local area where I live/come from; I had planned to watch the episode because my children/relatives like it; I had not planned to watch the episode, but casually found it while zapping; other.
6 Respondents were asked to self-rate their level of attention while watching the last episode of Time Team they had seen, by choosing one option among: excellent; very good; fair; poor.
7 Jim Mower was Development Producer for Time Team from 2003 to 2012.
8 Sixty-two per cent of respondents rated their viewing attention as excellent and 26% as very good (N = 251).
9 Especially when Time Team was at its beginnings, Tony Robinson’s popularity might have been helped by the fact that the actor was already famous for having played Baldrick in the TV series Blackadder. No mention of this previous role, however, was made by respondents to this survey in 2011.
10 See, for instance, the examples of ‘change of behaviour’ as a consequence of watching Time Team that have been reported by some of the respondents (see ).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Chiara Bonacchi
Chiara Bonacchi completed a PhD entitled ‘Communicating Archaeology: From Trends to Policy. Public Perceptions and Experience in the Changing Media Environment’, at the UCL Institute of Archaeology. This research examined the public’s consumption of archaeology through museum visitation, television viewing and other media experiences, in the contemporary UK and Italy. She is now a Research Associate at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, Deputy Director of the UCL Centre for Audio-Visual Study and Practice in Archaeology, and coordinator of the UCL Archaeology and Communication Research Network.