London Archaeologist

21/05/2025

Join us for the London Archaeologist AGM and Annual Lecture 2025

Thursday 22nd May 2025, 7:00pm
Institute of Archaeology, UCL in person or online.

Annual Lecture
New Research on the City Foreshore - Gustav Milne and Angela Bloomfield

This year Gustav Milne, former Senior Lecturer at UCL, and Angela Bloomfield, Project lead for CRaFT and a Field Officer for CoLAS will speak about New Research on the City Foreshore. They will be looking at illustrated examples of the erosion-threatened issues faced by archaeological sites on the Thames foreshore, and responses involving co-operation between local societies and UCL.

The AGM proceedings will include the election of Officers and ordinary members to the Publication Committee, as well as the usual business items.
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We have a complete slate of Officers, and we are delighted that our complement of Ordinary Members and Assistants are all prepared to stand for re-election. However, we are happy to receive enquiries for the positions. To discuss them or to submit a nomination, please email us at: [email protected] or use our Contact Form on the website.

Book on our website: https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annual-lecture.html

Foreshore features at Trig Lane being recorded by the team from UCL Institute of Archaeology and CRaFT, 2024 (Photo: C Frearson)

11/05/2025

We're delighted that this year's Annual Lecture will be with Gustav Milne and Angela Broomfield on New Research on the City Foreshore.

Gustav Milne, former Senior Lecturer at UCL, and Angela Broomfield, Project lead for CRaFT and a Field Officer for CoLAS, will speak about New Research on the City Foreshore. They will be looking at illustrated examples of the erosion-threatened issues faced by archaeological sites on the Thames foreshore, and responses involving co-operation between local societies and UCL.

Join us on Thursday 22nd May 2025, 7:00pm at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL or online on Zoom. The Annual Lecture follows our short AGM.

30/04/2025

On the Cover this issue!

This Chinese fire-breathing lion was found during excavations which were conducted from 1998 - 2018 at Bermondsey Square.

The colourful stoneware lion's design includes a spiral- patterned mane with green and honey yellow glazes. It has a hollow body and is thought to have held incense. When lit, smoke would emerge from its mouth to transform it into a fire-breathing lion.

It was possibly made in the Fujian or Guangdong (formerly Canton) provinces of south-east China. It reflects the 18th-century British fascination with Chinese imports when such objects like this became very fashionable. The context for the find can be found in "Bermondsey Square - Prehistoric and Roman Settlement, Medieval Abbey and Post-Medieval Mansion" by Alistair Douglas, published by PCA in 2024.

Photo © PCA/Strephon Duckering Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA

23/04/2025

Our Spring 2025 issue is out!

In Volume 17, Number 8:

Features:

Findspot: The aurochs skeleton from Ewell, Surrey Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA

Author, Author... London Archaeological Prize winner 2024

LA Publication Prize: A good read - judges' comments for the runners-up

Museums Update: London Museum update

Research

The Prehistory of Greenwich Wharf
Enid Allison et al of London Archaeology

Evidence for Roman and Later Activity, St Swithin's Lane
Jessica Bryan and Sadie Watson

Obituary: Timothy Darvill, OBE

Plus book review, letter, commentary, news, and diary

13/02/2025

A section of London's first basilica has been uncovered by Museum of London Archaeology at 85 Gracechurch Street. We're looking forward to hearing how this work develops!

The discovery has been described as one of the most important pieces of Roman history in the City of London.

29/01/2025

There's not one, but two research articles about Southwark in our Winter 2025 issue!

Rebecca Haslam and Ireneo Grosso draw on recent discoveries at Harper Road and Brandon House, as well as a reappraisal of the existing evidence, to make a convincing case to revise the current model of Roman roads in Southwark.

And Bruce Watson has a new attempt to reconstruct the extent of Southwark's Saxo-Norman and medieval defences at the southern end of London Bridge.

First photo: Stane Street under excavation at Harper Road ©Pre-Construct Archaeology.

Second photo: Two 12th-century ditches excavated at Bedale Street as part of Thameslink fieldwork ©Oxford Archaeology & Pre-Construct Archaeology.

22/01/2025

In our Winter 2025 issue, Edward Biddulph shares some of the highlights from Oxford Archaeology's work at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich over the last 25 years. Including uncovering this spectacular Iron Age ditch, 15m wide and over 6m deep. There is still a lot to analyse from the site, but this ditch appears to be defensive and would have protected this strategic location on the river.

15/01/2025

On our cover this issue is a rare discovery from the Thames, this complete set of false teeth have been dated from 1701-50.

These would have been extremely expensive and would have been made as a bespoke item for their wearer. The gum fittings were made from ivory; front teeth are human, fixed in place with gold pegs; back molars are blocks of ivory engraved with lines. Wear shows that the dentures were used quite heavily for eating.

False teeth at this time were mainly worn to improve appearance: many were not that functional and it was common for them to be taken out when eating.

Experiments to replace lost and damaged teeth included live transplants. However, these were only briefly viable and had limited success with high rates of infection. Other methods explored included dentures. The teeth used to make them were commonly taken from the dead, often from those fallen on battlefields.

These dentures will be on display at Secrets of the Thames: mudlarking London's lost treasures from 5 April at London Museum Docklands (see preview p 176-8).

Photo. © London Museum

Subscribe today! https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/subscribe.html

12/01/2025

Our Winter 2025 issue is out!

In this issue:

Features:

Archaeology overview: Archaeology at the Royal Arsenal. Oxford Archaeology

Exhibition preview: Celebrating serendipity - The new mudlarking exhibition being planned at London Museum

Historic England consultation: GLAAS Guidance Update. Historic England

Research:

Re-Aligning Roman Roads in Southwark Rebecca Haslam & Ireneo Grosso Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA

The Defences of Saxo-Norman and Medieval Southwark: A Reappraisal
Bruce Watson

Obituary: Ralph Peter John Jackson

Plus book review, letter, commentary, news, and diary

17/11/2024

Have you seen our Autumn 2024 issue yet?

It arrived later than normal due to some changes at our distributor, we're working with them to make sure the next issue arrives on time. We're sorry for the delay!

In Volume 17, Number 6

Features:

Archaeology overview: 'When the journey's over'
Trevor Brigham and Bruce Watson summarise the Roman significance of the Regis House waterfront site, celebrating its e-publication almost thirty years after the excavation

Archaeology update: A good time was had!
Following the CBA Festival of Archaeology at the end of July, some participants in the various Londonwide events review how their activities went.

Research:

Geoarchaeological research pinpoints new insights into Ilford silt
The site at 573—585 High Road, llford, revealed Middle Pleistocene deposits showing an improved understanding of their age, origin and stratigraphic relationships.
C P Green, C R Batchelor, J Athersuch, K Dudgeon, C Lang, P Toms & J Wood

Excavations at Monument Street
Extensive evidence from the Great Fire showed the busy nature of the pre-fire and the extensive redevelopment of the area post-fire.
Ian Blair, with contributions from various finds specialists from MOLA

Plus book review, letter, commentary, news, and diary

17/10/2024

HR role with Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA

📢 Join Our Team! HR Officer Wanted 🤝
PCA is looking for a skilled HR Officer to support our growing team! This is a flexible opportunity, with both full-time and part-time options available.

Help us support our growing workforce and play a key role in the smooth running of one of the UK’s largest archaeological companies.

Learn more at: http://www.pre-construct.com/job-listing