Professor Mick Aston's advice to would-be archaeologists
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- My name is Guy de la Bedoyere. It was my privilege to work on Time Teams from 1998 to 2011, usually as guest expert on programmes to do with Roman or World War 2 sites. Getting to know Mick Aston was one of the most memorable aspects of that experience. At a Time Team shoot at Piercebridge on 2 July 2009 he very kindly agreed to do a short interview with me to offer advice to my A-level students - what came out was the wisdom of someone who realized we are only here for a while and during that time should do what interests us most. I hope that he and his will not mind me uploading the film to UA-cam as a short tribute to him, and in the hope that his advice continues to echo down through the next generation of archaeologists and historians. Forgive the quality - it was made with a small digital camera, so is not the best. But this is how I would like to remember Mick.
Yes. My contemporaries from university who studied History went on to a large range of jobs ranging from the Law to Merchant Banking. My own History A-level students now are going to all sorts of futures. History is widely seen as a very sharp and acute analytical discipline. Like Mick I am convinced that you should do what interests you most, whether Physics or History or whatever, as it will stimulate and inspire you; armed with that you cannot go wrong in the long run.
Every kid should see this. Bless you Mick.
Professor Mick Aston, what a legend . Thank you for your advice. RIP
Thanks for uplaoding Mister de la Bedoyere.
Miss him and love him and felt like I knew him, the legendary Mick Aston. Wish I had done what he said and what had fascinated me from a young age but I live that life through Mick and Time Team. Have about 50 episodes saved to my tv and watch some every day still. What a wonderful man and icon to young people (and older like me). World is a sadder place without him and his enthusiasm. Thank you Guy.
Wow! RIP Mick Aston. Prescient words. I was struck by the topic bc I too wanted to do nothing but archaeology. However, I got a completely different degree bc it would be “useful” and I could get a job that pays well. Now I’ve just turned 59 yo and realized that I got it all wrong. I’ve now changed my course and am pursuing archaeology as a career. Even though I’m “old” life’s too short to continue the misery. God bless Mick and the entire Time Team crew. Thanks to everyone for giving us this precious gift. You are definitely missed Mick.
Sage advice from a master. So many people do what they believe is going to bring them money/ material possessions and in the end they still feel incomplete.
RIP Mick Aston. You are sorely missed.
From a Yank in Michigan, County , Antrim.
God bless Mick. Someone I would love to have had a pint with. Never forgotten though.
Guy,
Thank you so much for making this. You and Mick have been an inspiration to me. My interest was always primarily Roman History, even since taking Latin in high school. I have enjoyed the subject of archaeology ever since I was young and I have always enjoyed Time Team, and you and Mick's work. I was in the middle of writing him a letter when I had found out he passed away and I was heart broken that we lost such a wise man in the field.
Thanks again for posting this.
Good advice indeed. One life, live it your own way. The majority get it wrong, don't follow the unfulfilled crowd.
We miss you, you dear man. I am going back to school because of you and Time Team, RIP dear man.
damn, what a mind we've lost. I'll always treasure all I've seen and learned from Mick. RIP brother. And thanks a lot Guy for sharing this video (I know it's been some time but I'm only seeing it now).
Cheers everyone
what a legend! wish I was one of his students. RIP
RIP Mick. I hope you find many artefact's were ever you are.
I want to thank you for the many hours I have been able to enjoy TIME TEAM,and I mean MANY,the UK is I think so very lucky to have a long documented history I was lucky enough to visit in 1985 and saw the Roman Villa and its beautiful floors with skeleton I thank you TONY,PHIL , ALL THE AWESOME WOMEN and lastly the SWEETIE PROFESSOR MICK ASHTON always missed. Robyn Hooper Sydney .
Thank you for all your hard work on Time Team, posting this message and putting up with the pathetic dump of recycled info in the last couple years of Time Team.
I only found out about Mick's passing a couple of months back, by watching TT on you-tube, love the show, great people...very much loved and respected down here but it was only when I started to watch it in here that I found out that TT had started back in the early 90's; needless to say, I've enjoyed watching all the old shows as well! Certainly sound advice from Mick, very good advice indeed, thank you Guy for making this interview & placing it into you-tube, & a big thank you to all the TT crew.
The only gripe I have about TT, is how Channel 4 treated certain people toward the end of TT, I'm sure it left a bitter taste in some mouths?! One thing is certain, I shall continue to enjoy TT, & if I have kids, then I'll make the little bugger's watch it LOL.
RIP: Mick...thanks for all the fun/adventure & sound advice.
Thats it ...am doing it !
Great Video of a man who became a household name for us all.
Guy, got your recent book on Roman Britain which is excellent, one of the best available IMO.
I ended up being an engineer (which I'm interested in) But I do dig, the most recent being a dig helping Reading Uni at Silchester / Calleva Atrebatum. Can you push for more archaeology on TV? Us interested non archaeologists can't get enough archaeology now you guys aren't on the box with Time Team anymore!
Miss you Mick. Your the best rip.
in the new episodes i think he would be very pleased to see the new - Mickmobile - !
Thanks Guy for making the video and uploading it. Keep well and do the things you enjoy.
Uploaded just 3 days after he died such a lost to the arcehology commiuty and time team fans allover the world r.i.p prof mick aston
I take your point Guy about History study opening many options. What I should've said was that employment in the History area appears restricted to Education, at least here in Australia. Thanks for the vids, especially the Pompeii/Herculaneum ones. Much appreciated.
rip mick,such a sad loss
I liked him
I chose not to study History courses at university because I couldn't see them leading to employment anywhere except in the Education sector. Was I wrong?
Probably, yes.
Don't listen to the guy. When he started, conditions where totally different. Also: survivorship bias
Third rate archeologist this bloke was
Yeah, wasting his time helping to lay the foundations of landscape archaeology. What a looser!