London Archaeologist

26/10/2025

Lots of comments about the artefact on our front cover this issue - it's an eel spear!

This iron eel spear was designed for use in clear shallow water. It captured the eel without injuring it, by gripping it or holding it down. Eels caught in this way were sent live to market.

Eels have long been a delicacy. In medieval times, they were trapped or caught in the Thames using just such an eel spear. There had been a plentiful supply of eels in the Thames, but numbers began to dwindle as the weather became colder in the 14th century. So Dutch merchants increased their eel imports, keeping them fresh in specially adapted ships. The ships' mooring spots were along the Thames at Queenhithe and Billingsgate.

The spear is currently on display in the Mudlarking exhibition at London Museum Docklands until 1 March 2026.

Photo © London Museum

21/10/2025

Our Autumn 2025 issue is out now!

In this issue:

Features:

🏺 Archaeological overview: The Liberty site strikes again! Museum of London Archaeology

🏺 Findspot: A Roman cremation from the Old Kent Road: New light on an old find - Stephen Greep

🏺 Findspot: A folded pilgrim badge from the foreshore - Peter Wollweber

🏺 Access to archaeology: Whitechapel archaeology - Sarah Wolferstan Archaeology South-East

Research

🏺 The Dead Marshes: Excavations at 1 Liverpool St - James Langthorne

🏺 Excavations at 14-19 Tottenham Mews, Camden - Kathy Davidson, with Guy Thompson, Berni Sudds & Märit Gaimster Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA

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.