The Series

If you have seen the programmes  you will know that they is based on the Time Team format seeking to answer specific archaeological questions about a site in just a few days. 

Where it differs from Time Team is that the sites chosen are all too difficult or dangerous to get to by conventional means, but require climbing, caving or diving to reach them.

The series also puts special emphasis on the application the latest hi-tech methods to the sites, rather than having as many people excavating as Time Team does. 

The Parys Mountain Programme

The programme which was shown on TV in July 2004, was made over five days filming last August.  Initial approaches were made to Dr. David Jenkins of PUG who has published a number of papers on the archaeology of the mine to decide if there were objectives of appropriate scale and difficulty for the EA Team to tackle.  After permission had  been granted by the landowners, Anglesey Mining PLC and the Marquess of Anglesey, the involvement of PUG became essential as we are the people who know the underground workings.  In all there were about 20 people involved in the filming every day.

PUG’s Role

Ten members of PUG were involved in providing assistance during the filming.  Cables were run several hundred metres underground to provide lighting for filming.  An immensely expensive Cyrax laser scanner had to be manhandled by us down ladders and along narrow passages to the chambers where it was to be used, 100ft underground.  Members of the film crew and the archaeologists were always accompanied underground by PUG members, for safety and to make sure that they did not get lost!  Members of the group are shown beside the crew's Landover at the end of filming. Dr. David Jenkins provided much background material, suggesting suitable objectives and providing copies of his meticulously researched plans extracted from eighteenth and nineteenth century maps and surveys. Others made up to 7 trips in up and down the mine in a day accompanying crew members and carrying equipment.

Not to plan...

There were few mishaps but one member of the film crew managed to get themselves locked in the mine. Fortunately this was soon realised and they were released.  Another crew member left with the other vehicle keys in their pocket and had to make the 25 mile journey back, and Clive the cameraman toppled backwards at the top of the 90 foot staircase while filming the EA team approaching him. Fortunately he was not badly hurt.  Generally work was completed on schedule, and the final night finished with the whole PUG team invited to join the EA for a meal and a drink in Beaumaris.

The Extreme archaeology web site has more details about the Parys mine

What did they think?

Katie Hirst was not a caver and not surprisingly considered her scariest moment in the whole series was “Without a doubt going through the 200-year-old mine in Parys Mountain.  The timbers that were supporting the mine were completely rotten, with a texture like sponge cake; and the rocks above were collapsing as we moved past them. It was an amazing experience though!"

Join the Parys Underground Group

If the thought of underground exploration excites you, or you are interested in the archaeology or geology of the mines then contact the Parys Underground Group.  We meet regularly at Parys Mountain on Wednesday evenings and can usually take temporary members underground.  Contact us :- underground@parysmountain.co.uk