Archaeology Today
| "Archaeology Today" | |
|---|---|
| Monty Python's Flying Circus episode | |
| Episode no. |
Series 2 Episode 8 |
| Original air date | 7 November 1970 |
| Running time | 25–30 minutes |
The trailer includes the theme song and an introduction to this episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus. It has an animated introduction where there is a large foot that becomes broken and disintegrates into the ground, with no evidence left. Nature continues its natural action and the surroundings grow and eventually has a city built on top of the site. The city becomes condemned and is then bulldozed down with plans for new luxury apartments. While constructing the new, luxury apartments, an "artifact" is found which resembles a very large big toe, and is brought to The British Museum, where it is called the "archaeological find of the century!" They were able to "accurately reconstruct" the artifact, using the toe as a trunk for an elephant.
A television interviewer (Michael Palin) introduces two archaeologists: Professor Lucien Kastner (Terry Jones), of Oslo University, and Sir Robert Eversley (John Cleese). It soon becomes obvious that the host is interested mainly in their heights; he insults Kastner (5′10″) and fawns over Sir Robert (6′5″). When Sir Robert brings up his discovery of Polynesian influences, the host asks about the Polynesians' stature; Sir Robert replies that it "has nothing to do with archaeology," whereupon the host takes an artifact and smashes it, enraging Professor Kastner. Sir Robert punches the host, who threatens revenge.
We then see Sir Robert with his assistant Danielle (Carol Cleveland) digging in Egypt 1920. Sir Robert had been finding great artifacts and was very happy which caused him to break out in song. He finds a Sumerian drinking vessel, an unprecedented find in the context of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt. The interviewer then appears and challenges Sir Robert. Kastner leaps onto the interviewer's shoulders, making them together almost twice as tall as Sir Robert. Danielle then leaps onto Sir Robert's shoulders, and each stack is further heightened by an Arab servant. The six of them brawl, smashing the found artifacts and killing each other. With his dying breath, the interviewer addresses a typical signoff to the camera.
Rev. Arthur Belling (Graham Chapman), of St Looney Up the Cream Bun and Jam, appeals for help in curing our less fortunate neighbours of their sanity.
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