06-26-2013, 02:30 PM
The much-respected academic was a presenter on the Channel 4 programme as well as one of the brains behind its concept
![[Image: Time+Team+presenters+Tony+Robinson+®+a...ham+Palace]](http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article679971.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Time+Team+presenters+Tony+Robinson+®+and+Mick+Aston+at+Buckingham+Palace)
Time Team archaeologist Professor Mick Aston has died at the age of 66.
The academic, a presenter on the hit Channel 4 programme, was known as one of the country’s top archaeologist
Prof Aston was the brains behind the original Time Team concept and known by fans for his colourful jumpers.
It was believed the much-respected professor had suffered health problems but the cause of death is not yet known.
Time Team's official Facebook and Twitter accounts revealed the news last night.
A statement said: "It is with a very heavy heart that we've been informed that our dear colleague Mick Aston has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family."
Close friend and former Time Team colleague Phil Harding said he had received the news from his son, James Aston.
Dr Harding said that learning of his death just two weeks after talking to him on the phone for the last time had come as a shock.
"It just seems so incredible, like a bad dream, but unfortunately this is no dream," the 62-year-old said.
"He was a seriously good mate and a seriously good archaeologist, a unique man.
"Everybody loved him, he just had a way with people. I cannot believe there was anybody who disliked him, he just had such a relaxed way.
"He had incredible knowledge and an effortless way of making archaeology accessible to people."
Professor Francis Pryor, who also worked with Prof Aston on the programme, paid tribute to a man who he described as "remarkable archaeologist who could really dig".
He said: "I will remember him fondly - was a warm, loving, nice man.
"He did very good work on original British towns which is still being built on and he was an authority on monastic church archaeology and early medieval archaeology."
Fan Lee Brady, of the Save Time Team campaign, said: "The Time Team crew and Channel 4 should commission a 'one-off' special dig in memory of Mick.
"He loved Time Team and it would be very fitting that they could do one more dig at a location Mick would have loved."
Born and raised in Oldbury in the West Midlands, Prof Aston was instantly recognisable on television for his colourful jumpers.
He lived in Somerset, and continued to take part in archaeology projects after leaving Time Team acrimoniously last year, when he accused the programme of dumbing down.
Before being named an emeritus professor at the university of Bristol and an honorary visiting professor at Exeter and Durham, he first joined the cast led by actor and presenter Tony Robinson when the show began in 1994.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mic...am-1989900
Time Team archaeologist Professor Mick Aston has died at the age of 66.
The academic, a presenter on the hit Channel 4 programme, was known as one of the country’s top archaeologist
Prof Aston was the brains behind the original Time Team concept and known by fans for his colourful jumpers.
It was believed the much-respected professor had suffered health problems but the cause of death is not yet known.
Time Team's official Facebook and Twitter accounts revealed the news last night.
A statement said: "It is with a very heavy heart that we've been informed that our dear colleague Mick Aston has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family."
Close friend and former Time Team colleague Phil Harding said he had received the news from his son, James Aston.
Dr Harding said that learning of his death just two weeks after talking to him on the phone for the last time had come as a shock.
"It just seems so incredible, like a bad dream, but unfortunately this is no dream," the 62-year-old said.
"He was a seriously good mate and a seriously good archaeologist, a unique man.
"Everybody loved him, he just had a way with people. I cannot believe there was anybody who disliked him, he just had such a relaxed way.
"He had incredible knowledge and an effortless way of making archaeology accessible to people."
Professor Francis Pryor, who also worked with Prof Aston on the programme, paid tribute to a man who he described as "remarkable archaeologist who could really dig".
He said: "I will remember him fondly - was a warm, loving, nice man.
"He did very good work on original British towns which is still being built on and he was an authority on monastic church archaeology and early medieval archaeology."
Fan Lee Brady, of the Save Time Team campaign, said: "The Time Team crew and Channel 4 should commission a 'one-off' special dig in memory of Mick.
"He loved Time Team and it would be very fitting that they could do one more dig at a location Mick would have loved."
Born and raised in Oldbury in the West Midlands, Prof Aston was instantly recognisable on television for his colourful jumpers.
He lived in Somerset, and continued to take part in archaeology projects after leaving Time Team acrimoniously last year, when he accused the programme of dumbing down.
Before being named an emeritus professor at the university of Bristol and an honorary visiting professor at Exeter and Durham, he first joined the cast led by actor and presenter Tony Robinson when the show began in 1994.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mic...am-1989900
![[Image: SNN1427BAL-532_1507876a.jpg]](http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01507/SNN1427BAL-532_1507876a.jpg)