From 7-9 August 2012, the Roman 'Saxon Shore' fort at Brancaster (NHER 1001) was the subject of geophysical surveys and excavations by Channel Four's Time Team. This was the last project (Programme 10) in Series 20 and the 200th episode of Time Team.
The Roman fort at Brancaster is thought to date to the early 200s AD, and probably functioned as both a fortified trading/supply base and, towards the end of Roman Britain, as one of the three 'Saxon Shore' forts defending Roman Norfolk against Saxon raiders (the others being at Burgh Castle and Caister on Sea). 
In advance a Project Design had been agreed between Time Team, the National Trust, English Heritage and Norfolk County Council. Several local groups from West Norfolk participated in the excavations, including the King's Lynn Metal-Detecting Club, the Castle Rising History Group and the West Norfolk & King's Lynn Archaeological Society.
Geophysical surveys included magnetometry and ground penetrating radar (GPR), over most of the fort interior and in fields to the east (the vicus or civilian settlement outside the fort (NHER 1003)) and to the north where there was thought to be an earlier fort (NHER 1004). The geophysical surveys, especially GPR, produced spectacular results, revealing details of several buildings inside the fort and extra-mural features known from cropmarks and mapped by the Norfolk National Mapping Programme, including the principia (headquarters building) and a misaligned building of uncertain function. In addition to these, the magnetometer and GPR surveys located several other major buildings not previously recorded in detail.
Trenches examined the principia, the misaligned building, the north wall and an internal building, the vicus to the east and the possible early fort to the north.
The programme will probably be broadcast in early 2013. Wessex Archaeology will produce a report on the work for the Norfolk Historic Environment Record, and a synthesis will be published in the local journal Norfolk Archaeology. 
As a result of the Time Team's work, our knowledge and understanding of the Roman fort has been very greatly enhanced, and in just three days a huge amount of invaluable data was collected. In due course this will help us to re-tell the story of Roman Brancaster, make a major contribution to the archaeology of the 'Saxon Shore' and, in due course, to greatly enhance the experience and appreciation of the fort by local communities and visitors.
You can also find out more about the dig on the National Trust website and also watch video clips about the Brancaster dig.
David Gurney