BBC TimeTeam Documentary on The Sanctuary of the Great-Aten Temple at el-Amarna

     In my opinion, there are two kinds of documentaries: one is flashy, brash, and endowed with little content, while the other has an academic feel to it, utilising experts in their respective fields not to validate a certain point, but to offer insight on the topic at hand. The programmes that are most often shown on the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, and The Learning Channel are most often of the former ilk. It is true, however, that there are some rewarding shows on these networks, but by and large they are lacking in any academic rigour. PBS, on the other hand, produces documentaries that are almost invariably of excellent quality, though they may not hold the attention of today's channel surfing teens nor do they attract wide audiences. Instead, they are targeting those who have a desire to learn, not simply to be entertained. Often on PBS they show archaeological programs produced by the BBC in England. Though not to my knowledge shown in the States yet, the 'Time Team' series is the model for the documentary that I must plan out now. The shows follow the actual excavation of the site, i.e. 'dirt archaeology', and combines it with the history of the era being excavated as well as with possible reconstructions of the site itself.

     Thus, there will be no big named actors to narrate the piece; rather, archaeologists like Barry Kemp, who has actually excavated on the site will be the chief presenter, but anyone who has had direct involvement in the excavations at Amarna will be employed. The show will begin by showing the digs on site and the recent finds that were made. The history of the excavations at the sanctuary will be illustrated here. Next, the history of the sanctuary will be explored in the context of Egyptian history. The dramatic changes in religion and art will also be explored here. The use of over-dramatic reenactments will be avoided as will the inaccurate visual cues so often given in the poorly produced documentaries. The show would then conclude with possible reconstructions of the sanctuary and temple complex, using computer modeling software in conjunction with other more traditional methods. However, the reconstructions should not be presented as being one hundred percent accurate. In fact, different areas of the sanctuary must be shown reconstructed in more than one manner and with varying degrees of certainty. Though not as concrete as coming down on one particular rebuilding, this method reflects the real world dilemmas that face archaeologists in the field.

     Using this format, I hope to create a show that portrays archaeology as a ever-changing study, facing challenges during the excavation process, the research phase, and the reconstruction. Answers are often as useful as asking new questions and proposing new approaches to old problems. It is this continual search for knowledge that I wish to convey in my documentary.