London Archaeologist

17/07/2024

The Romans left us some weird and wonderful objects to find in our city 🏺

Can you guess what this artefact from Londinium is?

15/07/2024

Oh this should be interesting! And it's online as well as in-person!

Kathy Davidson will speaking to the City of London Archaeological Society on Friday 19 July about PCA’s recent work at Newgate Street. This is a hybrid lecture – you can attend in person or online.

The former GPO site on Newgate Street was one of the most significant excavations conducted by the DUA in the City of London during the 1970s. This key site revealed late Iron Age and early Roman buildings from early Londinium, late Saxon structures, and traces of medieval occupation. Additionally, it revealed remains of the 12th-century church of St Nicholas Shambles and its associated cemetery.

The building constructed after the 1970s work was recently extended and its basement enlarged. Our team, led by Kathy Davidson, excavated the surviving archaeology over a trench measuring 25m by 4.5m. Surprisingly, there were no medieval burials, suggesting they might have been removed during 19th-century developments. However, we did discover human remains in an unexpected location!

The excavation revealed well-preserved sequences of medieval rubbish pits, extensive Roman buildings, and early 1st-century AD quarries. Evidence from the Roman phases strongly suggests that smiths were working either on-site or nearby, which will be a focal point for further investigation and publication.

Find out how to watch the lecture here: https://bit.ly/4d1htBa

17/06/2024

Great to see the Regis House Report from MOLA! Open access download too.

We've just published our first digital-only open-access monograph 📖

Our excavations at Regis House revealed remarkable evidence for early Roman occupation in London. This waterside quay was a hive of activity from as early as AD 52. Despite being destroyed by fire twice in 200 years, including during Boudicca's revolt, this important site continued to be developed until the Romans left Britain!

Read the monograph for free HERE: https://buff.ly/3xvgTfH

04/06/2024

The recording of our 2024 London Archaeologist Annual Lecture is now on YouTube. Alex Blanks – a Senior Archaeologist with MOLA – gave a fantastic talk about recent excavations near Holborn Viaduct and the unexpected discovery of a Roman funerary bed. Everything you didn't realise you wanted to know about Roman carpentry!

For the 2024 London Archaeologist Annual Lecture, Alex Blanks – a Senior Archaeologist with MOLA – spoke about recent excavations near Holborn Viaduct and th...

20/05/2024

Many thanks to everyone who came along to our AGM and Annual Lecture last week. And a big thank you to Alex Blanks for his fantastic talk about Museum of London Archaeology's excavations at Holborn Viaduct, fresh off site! We're all enthralled by Roman woodworking now!

The video of the talk will be available on our YouTube channel soon, watch this space!

14/05/2024

Just a reminder that the deadline for London Archaeological Prize nominations is next Wednesday!

If you’ve read – or written – a great piece of work over the past two years, why not enter it for this prestigious award?

£250 cash prize and award certificate will be given to the best publication of 2022 and 2023.

Anyone may nominate a publication. Publications must be related to the archaeology of Greater London, and can be printed or digital.

Full details and the nomination form are on our website.

Deadline for nominations: Wednesday 22nd May 2024

https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/london-archaeological-prize.html

13/05/2024

Great news! Our AGM and Annual Lecture on Thursday will now also be livestreamed on Zoom!

London Archaeologist AGM and Annual Lecture 2024
Thursday 16th May 2024, 7:00pm
Institute of Archaeology Lecture Theatre, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY or ​Online via Zoom

Following our short AGM, Alex Blanks from MOLA will be speaking about recent excavations near Holborn Viaduct and the unexpected discovery of a Roman funerary bed. ​

Book now: https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annual-lecture.html

08/05/2024

Book now to join us at our AGM and Annual Lecture on 16th May. Alex Blanks from Museum of London Archaeology will be speaking about recent excavations near Holborn Viaduct and the unexpected discovery of a Roman funerary bed. ​

https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annual-lecture.html

07/05/2024

What is this mass of wood? Back in 2004, an excavation by AOC in the Lea Valley, Edmonton, London, uncovered a well-preserved wooden platform of very unusual construction protruding into the river. This was dendrochronologically dated to AD 472 and is unique for the post-Roman to early period in the region.

We are thrilled that this important discovery has finally got the recognition that it deserves, having been published in the most recent issue of The Journal. The first 50 readers can access a free copy of the article from Taylor & Francis here: https://t.co/7qRiDI3Y1u

AOC would like to thank the contributors, in particular primary authors Ron Humphrey and Damian Goodburn, for their hard work on the article. Thanks also to the late Angus Stephenson, who is sadly no longer with us, but who we know would have loved to see this paper in print.

Barnet Museum London Archaeologist London & Middlesex Archaeological Society Museum of London Enfield Archaeological Society

02/05/2024

Join us for our AGM and Annual Lecture 2024
Thursday 16th May 2024, 7:00pm

The usual short AGM at 7.00 pm will be followed by the prestigious Annual Lecture. This year Alex Blanks – a Senior Archaeologist with Museum of London Archaeology – will speak about recent excavations near Holborn Viaduct and the unexpected discovery of a Roman funerary bed.

At the UCL Institute of Archaeology Lecture Theatre, London, WC1H 0PY

We're looking forward to seeing you there!

Register on our website: https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/

30/04/2024

Have you seen our Spring 2024 issue yet?

In Volume 17, Number 4:

Features:

Archaeological news: Funerary bed in Holborn A rare Roman wooden funerary bed has recently been discovered during excavations near Holborn Viaduct.

Research update: Black Death and plague burials Dr Rebecca Redfern and three US researchers compare skeletons from plague burials at the Royal Mint site with burials from two non-plague cemeteries.

Exhibition review: Legion: Life in the Roman army The new temporary exhibition at the British Museum explores what life in the Roman army was like.

Research

On the cover: The excavation of the remains of part of the Roman western cemetery last year led to the discovery of a Roman wooden bed as well as burials in wood coffins and a variety of personal grave goods including glass melon beads, a glass phial, and a decorated ceramic lamp (see feature pp 87–8).

Museum of London Archaeology, Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA, Museum of London, Hobley's Heroes, Archaeology South-East

30/04/2024

28/04/2024

This Roman 'quadrans' is a highly unusual find in the UK. With an eagle and the legend IMPERATOR II on one side, and a winged thunderbolt and 'COS IIII S C' on the other, it dates from AD145-161, during the reign of Antoninus Pius.

These coins, valued at one quarter of an 'as', rarely circulated in Roman Britain, with only a handful documented on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. The presence of this one in the City of London suggests that an individual who visited the site during the Roman era may have recently travelled through Italy or southern Gaul.

07/04/2024

Don't forget to submit your nominations for the London Archaeological Prize!

If you’ve read – or written – a great piece of work over the past two years, why not enter it for this prestigious award?

£250 cash prize and award certificate will be given to the best publication of 2022 and 2023.

Anyone may nominate a publication. Publications must be related to the archaeology of Greater London, and can be printed or digital.

Full details and the nomination form are on our website.

Deadline for nominations: Wednesday 22nd May 2024

https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/london-archaeological-prize.html

28/03/2024

Passionate about the past?
Interested in inspiring current and future generations?
Relish the challenges presented by transformation and change?

We are seeking up to four new trustees to join our board. After some significant change in 2023, we are seeking innovative and experienced individuals from a variety of backgrounds as we enter a new and exciting period.

This is your opportunity to play a crucial role shaping the future of one of the UK’s leading archaeological practices and education charities.

Find out more about what being a trustee at MOLA involves HERE: https://buff.ly/3vuSpCq

22/03/2024

17/02/2024

For this week we have a complete coin forger's mould from Bermondsey Square in Southwark. Real coins were pressed into clay to make moulds for casting coins with a lower silver content than the legitimate ones. The small V-shaped nick visible here allowed the molten metal to flow into the mould. This one shows a bearded and laureate Severan Emperor on one side, the other depicts Mars holding a spear and trophy. Counterfeit coins were common in the UK by the early third century as a result of currency debasement, inflation and the broader economic and political challenges facing the empire.

07/02/2024

Free pop-up exhibition on Friday for Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA's excavations at Whitechapel!

Can you see the lion's mask on this exquisite 'facon de Venise' goblet? If not, come to our free pop-up exhibition on Friday!

📅Friday 9th February from 11am to 4.30pm
📍Hampton by Hilton London City Hotel, 12–20 Osborn Street, Aldgate East, London E1 6TD

From the Roman period onwards, Whitechapel has been at the heart of London. Join us on Friday to see a display of artefacts found during excavations ahead of the hotel's development. Site supervisor Dougie will be there to answer any questions you may have. We hope to see you there!

05/02/2024

Fabulous finds from Museum of London Archaeology at Holborn Viaduct!

Breaking news from our excavations at Holborn Viaduct!

We’ve uncovered the first complete Roman funerary bed found in Britain - and there's more. As well as a Roman cemetery, this fascinating site covers an incredible 2000 years of London's history.

Read more HERE: https://buff.ly/3SuYLJm

The excavations at Holborn Viaduct are being carried out by MOLA ahead of the construction of 265,000 sq. ft office scheme developed by Royal London Asset Management Property.

08/01/2024

Harry Platts from Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA will be speaking tonight at West Essex Archaeological Group - WEAG. Details in the post!

Harry Platts will be speaking to West Essex Archaeological Group - WEAG on the preliminary results and findings from our late medieval industrial site at Jubilee House, Stratford. Harry’s talk will be tonight, at 8pm, at Woodford County High School for Girls. There is parking in the school site, or it is about 15 mins walk from Woodford tube station.

Our excavations at this site unveiled a series of timber revetments along the riverbanks, with two docks cut through them for boat landings. The accumulation of debris behind these revetments provided evidence of a long history of demolished buildings. Additionally, we identified contemporary and later industrial activities, including tanning pits and lime mixing pits. Some of these pits contained organic remains, such as fragments of decorated leather, offering a vivid connection to the past.

Harry will discuss our intriguing findings that included a significant number of animal bones, suggesting on-site butchering and the use of skins and horns in the manufacturing of various goods.

If you’re in striking distance, we’d love to see you there!

24/11/2023

Free walk with Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA exploring the archaeology of Southwark

Join us for an immersive heritage walk through the archaeological sites and historical landmarks of Southwark on Saturday 2nd December at 11am.

Explore the rich history of the area around our site at Avonmouth House, where Roman roads, mausoleums, temples and Tudor remains intertwine with post-medieval cattle burials, medieval inns and prisons!

The walk will begin at Avonmouth House, Avonmouth Road SE1 6NX at 11am and is expected to last 2-3 hours. No booking required, just turn up on the day!

25/10/2023

Site open day in Stratford this weekend.

Join us for an Archaeological Open Day this Saturday, from 10am-3pm, at Jubilee House, Stratford, to discover both intense riverside and industrial activity dating from the medieval to post-medieval periods. Our excavations here have revealed a series of timber revetments lining the riverbanks and two docks cut through them for landing boats. The rubbish used to build up the riverbanks behind the revetments includes the evidence for a long history of demolished buildings. Contemporary and later industrial activity was seen in the form of tanning pits and lime mixing pits, some of which contained organic remains, such as fragments of decorated leather, evoking a vivid connection to the past. The large amounts of animal bone point to animals being butchered on site and skins and horns used for manufacturing a wide range of goods. Mark your calendars and get ready to step back in time with us; it's a journey through history you won't want to miss! See you there!

24/10/2023

In our Autumn 2023 issue, Volume 17, Number 2:

Features:

Archaeology update: Roman mausoleum in Southwark Antonietta Lerz of Museum of London Archaeology and Dr John Pearce of King's College London talk about the recent find from Landmark Court, now The Liberty site, in Southwark.

Archaeology update: Frederick's Place Al Telfer provides a summary of this City site and how it got its name.

Archaeology news: A minor palace with big pretensions Martin Dearne, Excavations and Research Director of Enfield Archaeological Society, provides an extended summary of Elsyng Palace's history and the archaeology of the site.

Archaeology overview: A forgotten legacy? The DUA at 50 Gus Milne looks back at the work of the Department of Urban Archaeology in this the 50th year of its inception.

Research

Civil War Defences at Phoenix Place, Mt Pleasant
Excavations by Archaeology South-East revealed 17th-century evidence of quarrying for material needed for building the nearby Lines of Communication. Ian Hogg

Investigations in Horse Guards Avenue
Archaeology by Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd PCA, just below street level, revealed more about the Court Gate of Whitehall Palace and later buildings including Gower/Carrington House. James Langthorne

Obituary: Friederike Hammer (1934—2023)

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

On the cover: The medieval waterfront at Billingsgate - John Clark, curator of the final Museum of London Medieval Gallery, shared his most significant medieval archaeological find.

05/06/2023

Ireneo Grosso presents his preliminary interpretations of recent PCA excavations between Coleman Street and Moorgate to the LAMAS 59th Annual Conference of L...

08/05/2023

Join us for the London Archaeologist AGM and Annual Lecture 2023, 18 May 2023, 7pm

"The Archaeology of Wren" with John Schofield

In person at Room 1.09, Marshall Building, LSE, Portugal Street, WC2A 2HD

Online via Zoom

The usual short AGM at 7.00 pm will be followed by the prestigious Annual Lecture. This year to mark the 300th anniversary of Sir Christopher Wren's death, John Schofield, past archaeological adviser to St Paul's Cathedral, will be reviewing the archaeology of St Paul's Cathedral and the parish churches in the City.

The AGM proceedings will include the election of Officers, plus six ordinary members to the Publication Committee. We have a complete slate of Officers, and three ordinary members, who are happy to stand for re-election. So there are three vacant places for ordinary members.

The short AGM will commence at 7pm, followed by the Annual Lecture. We regret that in-person spaces are limited. Booking is essential to join us in person or to receive the details of the livestream link.

Don't miss out!

https://www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annual-lecture.html

18 May 2023, 7pm. John Scofield, will be presenting: The Archaeology of Wren Reviewing the archaeology of St Paul's Cathedral and the parish churches in the City. Book to join in person or online

04/05/2023

Great news from Historic England!

10/04/2023

Who's been enjoying our latest issue over the long Bank Holiday weekend?

In Spring 2023, Volume 16, Number 12:

Features

Archaeology update: City Sites Unseen: We look at three inner London sites.

Author, Author...: Casting light on Syon Abbey: Becky Wallower talks to Robert Cowie, the winner of the London Archaeological Prize

LA Publication Prize: A good read: The runners-up of the London Archaeological Prize

Research

Roman Activity Beside the River Fleet, David Saxby with Amy Thorp

Medius House, New Oxford Street, Silvia Barlassina and Nick Holder

Mount Mill: A Civil War Fort by Goswell Road, Danny Harrison

All Museum of London Archaeology

Plus book reviews, commentary, news, and diary.