Phil Harding: Insights from His Fifty-Year Career in Archaeology 

What a wonderful, magnificent human being is Phil Harding. As an archaeologist, his abilities were demonstrated time and time again on the first Time Team programme (I do miss him on this second version), but he also shines as a humanitarian, one who doesn't use a fancy offical vocabulary in an effort to impress the uniniated, but tells history in terms we all can understand because that's his goal; to bring an understanding of history to everyone. And on a personal level, he's a warm, gentle, people loving man with a very strong yet fair sense of right and wrong. National treasure?... you bet! I'm just very, very sorry there aren't more people like him. Thank you, Phil, for showing us what we can be.

I admire and respect Phil Harding so much! Being in America I never got to watch Time Team when it was on regular TV, but discovered it on RU-vid. I've watched every episode on RU-vid. The advances that one show brought to the field is remarkable. It's a calling of the heart, being an archaeologist.

Having watched every Time Team at least once, Phil feels like a valued friend to me. Thank you very much for another chance to hear him speak about his passion.

Nobody can even hold a candle against Phil, he's the best.

As an American , my knowledge of British history was generalized and academic. Time team made it all come alive through the wonderful things they found and the lessons on history, topography and geology tying it all to the people who were there. With love and obvious passion. Thanks for the free college level classes.

Fantastic Video that sums up all I love about Time Team. Phil made Time Team a favorite element of my life. I am about 6 months older than Phil and wish I had worked for Time Team from its first show I saw in the 90s (I was a US citizen often working in the UK on computer software who loved history/archeology and visited many Time Team sites in my spare time). Time Team made me aware of (and love) the evolution of human society, science and the basic elements they grew from. Phil deserves LOUD thanks from anyone who saw Time Team in the last 30 years (or the next 70 years!).

Phil Harding is an absolute Legend. I think one of the most intimate ways in which Phil can tell a story linking prehistoric archaelogy to his finds is how his DNA is linked to the first people who colonised what is now England. The people who made the flint arrowheads and knapped those cores. They were His People. You cannot get any closer than that!

Phil Harding is an absolute legend

Phil is a multi national treasure!!

I first came across Time Team as a thirty something year old Australian, when I was taught history growing up in the Western suburbs of Sydney, we were told about the previous two hundred years of White Australian history. Until Time Team i had never heard about the Roman Invasion of Britain! Watching Phil and the other people on the show and learning from them, has been a huge learning experience for me, so now I can’t get enough of Archeological shows. Thanks Phil and Time Team. 👍🏼👍🏼

So wonderful to see Phil in any form now but so miss him on the new Time Team.

Phil, on those rainy hills in the Devon / Dorset moors, digging in piles of stones: "Bliss" , from an earlier Time Team episode.

A great conversation and glad to see Mr Harding again. As a Patreon for the NEW TIME TEAM - I just want to say we all miss you Phil!! But respect the fact that you put your shovel down, your old hat on the hook & take the time to enjoy yourself, but if you ever want to drop by a new dig site just to say hi... ...I think well over 10000 Patreons would be over the moon!

Love Phil Harding!

Phil made the show.....we always looked forward to seeing Phil and his opinions on finds.

Time team was from the off an amazing programme. It brought archaeology into everyday homes and made it so watchable. One of the biggest reasons for that was Phil Harding. A wealth of knowledge with a way of explaining it that sunk in. There is no doubt Phil that your career has been one of the biggest influences to archaeology that the UK has ever seen. This stems from the physical discoveries you have made to the countless next generation archaeologists steered into the profession by watching you on Time team. It is great to hear you have enjoyed your career, effectively getting paid for what you love. I too had that drive as a small boy. From the word go I only wanted to be one thing. A Vet. Up until I was 17 all was on course. Then the wheels came off. I crashed and burned. Took any job to earn a crust and spent the next 43 years doing what I hate and still am. A life wasted, with nothing to show for it. That can't be said of Phil. Great career and plenty of achievements.

US fan here. . .. have watched the entire Time Team series more than 15 times over the last 10 years. .. . yes, all the way through. LOVE & RESPECT to Phil. Wish I could have the privilege of meeting/talking to him. Hoping to be in Wiltshire this September. I want to visit TT sites & Barrow Clumps! Sure wish Phil were participating in the modern TT, but glad he's writing & adding to the historic discussion. KUDOS Phil, I'm your biggest fan! (and I normally don't gush about personalities)

I've watched everything Time have ever created probaly 3 times. Seeing how they have all aged over the past 20 years or so is probably my greatest reminder of the fact that we all age and finally will die, much more so than my own family members whom I have seen age very slowly day to day. Tis is why this video moves me quite a lot more than it should, given I have never met Phil in person. Strange things happento us in the media age.

St.Phil=Patron Saint of Shovel Bums!🇺🇲

Phils a Hero, cheers Phil for ya hard work & dedication, flint for the win

This is 30 minutes with an amazing man. I've watched the Time Signs three or four times and then found Time Team on RU-vid in about 2015. I think I've watched the full series at least 8-10 times and have a full set downloaded as well. I am so admiring of Phil Harding. He has taught me so much over the years, and I simply adore his personal energy. Well done interview. Thank you so much.

I'm so happy to come across this. I adore Time Team and Phil Harding. I've seen every episode about ten times! As an American, I am now so in love with Britain and its history. Would love to see you interview other Time Team members. I also love Matt Williams.

I have recently found Time Team on RU-vid within the last year. Being in America, I had no idea about the show until my son clicking on a show by accident. Now I've seen every episode at least 2x, and continue to watch it almost every day as I wind down for bed most of the time. Phil is one of the best on the show in many ways along with others like Guy, Helen, Sir Tony, Stewart (i love Stewart lol), Robin, Matt Alice, and most of all Mick...Mick is/was my favorite to listen to. One I can't seem to recall, a Roman finds specialist...Mark Corney I think...I know I butchered the last name but he was also a good one. Sooo many others as well but Phil tops them all imo.

Just charming. So glad to hear how he is doing.

Phil, I wish you had been in the U S A in your earlier days. My sister is 81 years old, with a Doctorate of Paeleontology from the University of Champaigne-Urbana in Illinois. She worked her way through college. Unfortunately, she got little work in her chosen profession, as those jobs went to men. It did get her teaching work in Geology. She went back to school and got degrees in Geology and Hydrology, working in oil fields and as a State Hydrogeologist. She retired at age 72 but is still working. She now works more hours a week volunteering, than she did "working", running a food pantry for people in need.

May we all “just do my job” the way Phil does! I’d listen to Phil talk about archeology for hours. His writing advice is spot on, too. I’ve got to make some notes, to share with my students.

Bonjour à tous et à toutes. As a French, I struggled to get Mister Phil's accent. After binge watching TT during the covid crisis, it got better. Now, I'd spend hours listening to this wonderful man and having a few pints with him.

What a wonderful person. Love this man.

Apart from everything else, I just love the way that Phil sticks with his West Country accent and doesn't ever sound in the slightest like a TV person.

Thanks Phill for you work on time team and your downtown earth way of speaking 💐🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

I love this video. I discovered Time Team after Covid, but have been a fan. The antiquity is a real draw, thinking about the people who lived thousands of years ago, but also, there's the interactions between Time Team members that just brings the human element in a different age upfront. Phil is definitely charismatic. I'm almost as old as he is, so I am not starting a career. I just love pondering what the relations were between the ancient people, and the natural environment in which they lived, and their connections to others who sometimes lived far away. Thank you for both your efforts in producing this interview.

Thanks for this Phil has been a hero of mine since seeing his first tv appearance. I have watched all of time team several times. An excellent interview.

I became a Phil fan when he said on one show that Peter Green was his favorite guitarist.

Love that man! And admire he is living his own dream, great role model. ❤

A good man Miss him on time team. My interest in archology is because of time team. I'm a sponge now can't get enough Thanks Phil

I came late to watching Time Team but I have watched all the episodes at least one on RU-vid. I so enjoyed hearing Phil speak today. If youare able to please convey to hime that I am a Patreon supporter of Time team for this year's dig at Sutton Hoo. Patreon members were given a choice of having their name or a dedication put on this flag. I choose to make a dedication to Mr. Harding . It reads, " For Phil Harding, field archeologist supreme." I have missed seeing him.

Brilliant blog, Phil and company brought archaeology into the 21st.Century; I was one of those lucky ones who worked in architecture, and was my passion. Thanks for all those hours of Time Team.

Phil I'd sure like to see you back on the new Time Team!

Many blessings sent !!! Thank you for everything. Carry on and enjoy !!!! Fr USA

I have always enjoyed Phil he has a dynamic personality and really enjoys what he does. I just wished he was involved with the new Time Team.

One of the very best 👍

I love this man. ❤

Brilliant interview....plus an important lesson for all in choosing careers....

I love Phil!

PHil is a national treasure!

Absolutely fascinating, but I'd expect nothing else from the great Phil Harding! It was fantastic seeing him again now that Time Team Original Series is over.

Thank you for this!

So few can follow their passion. Phil was fortunate to live his dream.

Great interview. I love Phil ❤

Good video. Much love to Phil. I admire his positive mind ser.

Thank you so much for this interview! I love Phil Harding (and the old TIME TEAM team)!

C'mon Phil join the rest of the team on the new RU-vid Time Team channel! You're the only one missing, and we all want you back!

Just amazing!!!!

Phil is the best.

I like Phil’s short shorts.

I can recognize, and name a dozen archeologists, they are all on the old and new time team.

What an interesting interview with our much loved Phil Harding. Thank goodness that Time Team Official channel, here on you RU-vid, are carrying on the excellent work of Phil and the dear late Prof. Mick Aston. www.youtube.com/@TimeTeamOfficial

If God were to pick the head of the Royal Archaeological Society of the Kingdom of Heaven, Phil would be his top choice

Phil,I spent 53yrs in a job that I got no satisfaction out of,except for a pay check @ the end of the week.

Phil was the pretty boy of Time Team when it started.

I would like to find out from Phil, what the leather pouch was that he carried the whole time in TT? Was it a cell phone holder? Never saw him use one....

on Time Team , it was always a toss-up as to who had cuter legs; Helen, or Phil.

15:30 Where is the site?

Phil shows how a crazy man and his daisy Dukes can join to become a sex symbol