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Ex-Time Team expert Mick Aston dies aged 66 Ex-Time Team expert Mick Aston dies
(35 minutes later)
Professor Mick Aston, a former resident academic on Channel 4's Time Team, has died at the age of 66.Professor Mick Aston, a former resident academic on Channel 4's Time Team, has died at the age of 66.
He appeared on the show, which sees experts carry out archaeological digs, from its inception in 1994 until 2011.He appeared on the show, which sees experts carry out archaeological digs, from its inception in 1994 until 2011.
The archaeologist also taught at a number of universities across the UK. Prof Aston lived in Somerset and taught at a number of UK universities.
Time Team's official Twitter account tweeted: "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."Time Team's official Twitter account tweeted: "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."
Co-presenter Francis Pryor said on Twitter that another Time Team archaeologist had confirmed the death. The exact circumstances of the death of Prof Aston, who was born and raised in Oldbury, in the West Midlands, and was known on the show for his colourful jumpers and unruly white hair, are not yet known.
He tweeted: "Have just spoken to Phil Harding. Sadly he confirmed that Mick Aston died last night. RIP dear friend." 'Unique man'
The exact circumstances of the death of Prof Aston, who was known on the show for his colourful jumpers and unruly hair, are not yet known. Close friend and former Time Team colleague Phil Harding said he had received the news from his Prof Aston's son, James Aston.
Prof Aston was born and raised in Oldbury, in the West Midlands, and lived in Somerset. Dr Harding, 62, said that although Prof Aston had suffered health problems, his death had come as a shock.
"It just seems so incredible, like a bad dream, but unfortunately this is no dream," he said.
Dr Harding said Prof Aston was a "unique man" who "everybody loved".
"He just had a way with people. I cannot believe there was anybody who disliked him, he just had such a relaxed way," he said
"He had incredible knowledge and an effortless way of making archaeology accessible to people."
Professor Francis Pryor, who also worked on Time Team, said Prof Aston had been a "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... and he was an authority on monastic church archaeology and early medieval archaeology."
'Passionate believer''Passionate believer'
Prof Aston's biography on the Time Team website says he had been with the show "since day one". He appeared as the senior archaeologist in 16 series of the programme, in which specialists carry out an archaeological dig in the space of three days. Prof Aston's biography on the Time Team website says he had appeared as the senior archaeologist in 19 series of the programme, in which specialists carry out an archaeological dig in the space of three days.
"In fact he was partly responsible for its creation after telling Tim Taylor, series producer, that it would be possible to evaluate a site in only three days," it says. "In fact he was partly responsible for its creation after telling Tim Taylor, series producer, that it would be possible to evaluate a site in only three days," the website says.
The website says he had worked in archaeology for more than 40 years and had a particular passion for anything medieval and monastic. It says he had worked in archaeology for more than 40 years, adding: "Mick had a childhood love of archaeology, despite his school's best attempts to dissuade him."
"Mick had a childhood love of archaeology, despite his schools best attempts to dissuade him," it says.
It adds that Prof Aston was a "passionate believer in communicating archaeology to the public".It adds that Prof Aston was a "passionate believer in communicating archaeology to the public".
Prof Aston studied geography with a subsidiary in archaeology at Birmingham University.Prof Aston studied geography with a subsidiary in archaeology at Birmingham University.
He joined the University of Bristol in 1979, organising and promoting lifelong learning and continuing education in archaeology.He joined the University of Bristol in 1979, organising and promoting lifelong learning and continuing education in archaeology.
'Dumbed down''Dumbed down'
From 1996 to 2004, he was professor of landscape archaeology at the university and later became emeritus professor in the same subject. From 1996 to 2004, he was professor of landscape archaeology at the university, later becoming an emeritus professor in the same subject.
The university says on its website that alongside Time Team, Prof Aston worked on a major research project that investigated the origins of the English village at Shapwick, Somerset, and researched monastic and landscape archaeology throughout Europe.The university says on its website that alongside Time Team, Prof Aston worked on a major research project that investigated the origins of the English village at Shapwick, Somerset, and researched monastic and landscape archaeology throughout Europe.
He was also an honorary visiting professor at Exeter, Durham and Worcester universities and had published a number of books relating to archaeology.
In July 2012, he received a lifetime achievement award at the British Archaeological Awards, a showcase for the best in UK archaeology.In July 2012, he received a lifetime achievement award at the British Archaeological Awards, a showcase for the best in UK archaeology.
Mark Horton, professor in archaeology at the university, said at the time that Prof Aston had made "the past accessible to all".Mark Horton, professor in archaeology at the university, said at the time that Prof Aston had made "the past accessible to all".
Writing in the Western Daily Press in February 2012, Prof Aston explained his decision to quit Time Team in 2011, saying it was because Channel 4 had altered its format and the show had been "dumbed down". In February 2012, Prof Aston, writing in the Western Daily Press, explained his decision to quit Time Team a year earlier, saying it was because Channel 4 had altered its format and the show had been "dumbed down".
"There is a lot less archaeological content and a lot more pratting about. I was the archaeological consultant but they decided to get rid of half the archaeological team, without consulting me," he wrote."There is a lot less archaeological content and a lot more pratting about. I was the archaeological consultant but they decided to get rid of half the archaeological team, without consulting me," he wrote.
Time Team fan Lee Brady, who set up a tribute group on social-networking site Facebook, 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."