Thames Archaeological Survey Project

Project Manager: Gustav Milne, University College London, Institute of Archaeology.
Survey Officer: Mike D. Webber, Museum of London

Click on the following headings to shortcut to the relevant section.

Background

© London Archaeological Research Facility.Thames Archaeological Survey Team at Bermondsey in 1995: examining a post-medieval shipyard on the foreshore.

Since the 19th century thousands of artefacts have been recovered from the foreshore and bed of the River Thames through collection, scavenging and dredging, but hitherto, and despite the discovery of archaeological features on the foreshore early this century, these finds have been considered to be unstratified.

Rescue excavations undertaken during the 1970s and 1980s by the Museum of London, on the city waterfront, changed this perception by demonstrating that ancient foreshore deposits now sealed on inland sites contained stratified finds associated with deposits of considerable palaeoenvironmental significance. It appears that well preserved elements of the prehistoric, Roman and later landscape survive beneath alluvium deposited by the Thames.

The evidence from the excavation of such waterfront sites, helps to demonstrate the potential of the present day foreshore deposits, which yield a significant quantity and diversity of data pertaining to the exploitation of the waterfront and the changing environment since the prehistoric period.

The threats to this archaeological resource are considerable. The foreshore deposits are being constantly degraded by the daily ebb and flow of the tides. In one area alone over 2 metres of deposits have been eroded within the past 30 years. In addition deposits are under imminent threat from proposed and future development. The size of the Thames foreshore is considerable. If the average width of the inter-tidal zone is estimated at 10 metres then an area of 1,200,000 square metres is exposed at each low tide.

The Thames Archaeological Survey pilot study was initiated by the London Archaeological Research Facility at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London and the Curatorial Division of the Museum of London. The survey, undertaken between April and September 1995, was conducted by teams recruited from local archaeological societies and students from the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. It was co-ordinated by a professional part-time survey officer. Classroom and field based training sessions were provided throughout this period, guidelines were produced and survey methods and recording techniques were developed to deal with the various problems involved in working within the inter-tidal zone.

Aims and Objectives.

The aims of the project were:

• to conduct a survey of four survey zones over a period of 6 months,
• to devise a complementary series of reconnaissance, intensive and extensive surveys of the study areas, to collect detailed data on the nature, extent, significance and survival of archaeological material on the foreshore
• to devise appropriate methods of recording together with database forms and guidelines
• to assess the nature of the threat to the archaeological and paleoenvironmental resource
• to produce a preliminary appraisal of the archaeological potential of the foreshore deposits
• to compile 1:1250 scale maps and detailed survey records for incorporation into the London Sites and Monuments Record
• to devise a method for monitoring long-term erosion, through topographic survey and the description of deposits
• to nurture public enthusiasm for archaeology and encourage involvement in fieldwork by the use of teams
• to provide training on health and safety, the recognition of artefactual, environmental and structural evidence, survey and recording procedures
• to establish links with other organisations with an interest in the foreshore,
• to present a report to English Heritage which included suggestions for further work on the foreshore

Methodology.

The survey methods employed were based upon those described by Milne and Goodburn (1993) with adaptions to local circumstances where necessary.

The areas selected for the pilot study were first subjected to a reconnaissance survey. The aim of these surveys was to provide an overall picture of the zones, to establish the position and condition of access points, the general extent and nature of the foreshore itself and the location of any major sewers or other obstacles. These were generally undertaken by pairs or small groups of people over a period of between one and three days.

The extensive survey followed the reconnaissance survey, and was intended to provide a basic record of the archaeological features and deposits within the zone, thus enabling a preliminary evaluation of its archaeological potential to be made. The whole survey zone was systematically walked and the presence and absence of archaeological features and materials noted. Relevant data was recorded on uniquely numbered survey sheets, and the associated numbers plotted onto the 1:1250 field maps.

The intensive survey was designed to provide a more detailed record of deposits and features in selected zones. Recording methods included topographic survey, detailed photography and the surveying of transects across the chosen zone.

Results.

The project demonstrated that stratified sequences of archaeological and paleoenvironmental deposits and features survive on the Thames foreshore. It also became clear that these deposits were under considerable threat from natural erosion processes and other activities, including major redevelopments. In addition archaeological features and objects were observed in many areas not included in the pilot survey. These included extensive areas of peat and other prehistoric deposits exposed along much of the Southwark foreshore between London Bridge and Hungerford Bridge, an area that has recently produced several Mesolithic and Neolithic artefacts, numerous industrial features at Vauxhall, barge-beds and boatyard scatters at Millbank and a circular post-built structure at Chiswick.

Finds of all periods continue to be presented to London's museums for identification, with noticeable concentrations in Hammersmith and Fulham, Syon Reach, Brentford, Rotherhithe and the City of London

It is now clear that important archaeological and palaeoenvironmental deposits are exposed along much of the river's length and that survey of the foreshore provides a method of examining the ancient landscape of the River Thames. Consequently a three year programme incorporating the systematic survey of all the inter-tidal zone within the Greater London area was inaugurated.

Bibliography.

Milne, G. and Goodburn, D. 1993 Foreshore archaeology. Data standards for recording archaeological material in the inter-tidal zone. Unpublished RCHME report.