I don't really do technology but
www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/t ... b_rom.html
on the Time Team web site has a good description of that particular programme.
The idea was to give the digger 24 hours as a late Roman soldier. I seem to remember a great deal of preparation to make that happen. We set up two barrack rooms, and a tavern for food and drink. Life in the barrack rooms was interesting. I had the front room, and the other seven, including the digger, the rear room. Normally two were on guard or busy at any one time, so sleeping arrangements were not too cramped. Most equipment was kept in the corridor.
The dig actually found very little, so we did a great deal of filming. The crew were very professional, and it was very interesting to see how the programme worked. The Director was excellent, and Tony Robinson obviously knew a great deal about every facet of the production.
There was a need to "tell a story" and to let the tiro "go on a journey" etc. I could accept the the necessity of this. But I wanted to keep modern intrusions to a minimum. I certainly didn't like the crew slipping the digger cigarettes. We found his secret store, and when I ripped them up in front of him while he was on guard at 3 am I thought he might start blubbing. He stayed in roll and and kept focused but I felt he could have tried a little harder. I like people to give 100%. After the filming and 36 hours in the file, he had to go off to the medics for exhaustion, and I suspect too much alcohol. I considered this a job well done.
After the experience I asked the Comitatus members involved if they would do it again. The vote was evenly split, but three years later they remember it fondly. I was pleased and relieved at the finished programme. You never know how your group will be presented, but I believe their editing was fair.
Did people enjoy the programme?
John Conyard
York
A member of
Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
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