Here's more about Dutch eel ships from @greenleejw.bsky.social
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26.10.2025 17:11
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Here's more about Dutch eel ships from @greenleejw.bsky.social
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Not saying we chose this for @greenleejw.bsky.social, but not saying we didn't either...
There had been a plentiful supply of Thames eels, but numbers began to dwindle with colder weather 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.
This iron eel spear was designed for use in shallow water. It captured the eel without injuring it, by gripping it or holding it down. Eels caught this way were sent live to market.
Eels were a delicacy. In medieval times, they were trapped or caught in the Thames using just such an eel spear.
Front cover of London Archaeologist magazine Autumn 2025 Volume 17 Number 10. On the cover is an iron eel spear. A large, roughly made metal object. It has a central shaft, which would have attached to a wooden handle which has been lost. Curving from the handle, like a rainbow are seven long flat tines, which end in rounded points. The tines are of different lengths and thicknesses, showing it was roughly made and is worn from use, adding to it's charm.
Lots of comments about the artefact on our front cover this issue - it's an eel spear!
The spear is currently on display in the Mudlarking exhibition at London Museum Docklands until 1 March 2026.
Photo © London Museum
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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
@pcaarchaeology.bsky.social
🏺 Findspot: A folded pilgrim badge from the foreshore - Peter Wollweber
🏺 Access to archaeology: Whitechapel archaeology - Sarah Wolferstan @archsoutheast.bsky.social
Front cover of London Archaeologist magazine Autumn 2025 Volume 17 Number 10. On the cover is an iron eel spear. A large, roughly made metal object. It has a central shaft, which would have attached to a wooden handle which has been lost. Curving from the handle, like a rainbow are seven long flat tines, which end in rounded points. The tines are of different lengths and thicknesses, showing it was roughly made and is worn from use, adding to it's charm.
Our Autumn 2025 issue is out now!
In this issue:
Features:
🏺 Archaeological overview: The Liberty site strikes again! @molarchaeology.bsky.social
🏺 Findspot: A Roman cremation from the Old Kent Road: New light on an old find - Stephen Greep
#archaeology #london
The photo is of foreshore features at Trig Lane being recorded by the team from UCL Institute of Archaeology and CRaFT, 2024 (Photo: C Frearson @lofttroll.bsky.social)
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.
A group of people working on the Thames foreshore at low tide. They are planning a series of baseplate timbers which are situated at the base of a modern set of river stairs. The foreshore surface is gravelly, and tinged red due to the amount of brick and tile that is deposited there. There are three baseplate timbers, two running perpendicular towards the river, and the third at right angles to make a U shape. They are approximately 3 metres long, and from a dark wood, possibly oak, with some large mortice holes cut into their topside. Lower down the foreshore near the river's edge, there are further lines of timber piles, in line with the baseplates, roughly 50cm - 1 metre high. There is a long tape stretched down the length of the foreshore, and from that people are taking measurements to do planned drawings of the features. The Thames is running behind them, with Millennium Bridge spanning towards the Tate Modern. A group of people working on the Thames foreshore at low tide. They are planning a series of baseplate timbers which are situated at the base of a modern set of river stairs. The foreshore surface is gravelly, and tinged red due to the amount of brick and tile that is deposited there. There are three baseplate timbers, two running perpendicular towards the river, and the third at right angles to make a U shape. They are approximately 3 metres long, and from a dark wood, possibly oak, with some large mortice holes cut into their topside. Lower down the foreshore near the river's edge, there are further lines of timber piles, in line with the baseplates, roughly 50cm - 1 metre high. There is a long tape stretched down the length of the foreshore, and from that people are taking measurements to do planned drawings of the features. The Thames is running behind them, with Millennium Bridge spanning towards the Tate Modern.
Join us for our AGM and Annual Lecture on Thursday 22nd May 2025, 7:00pm
At @uclarchaeology.bsky.social or online.
This year's Annual Lecture will be: New Research on the City Foreshore with Gustav Milne and Angela Bloomfield
www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annu...
#London #Archaeology 🏺
London Archaeologist AGM And Annual Lecture poster. Poster text: New Research on the City Foreshore. Gustav Milne and Angela Broomfield. 22nd May 2025, 7pm Institute of Archaeology Room 612, London WC1H 0PY and on Zoom Register at www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk The poster has two images, one is a sepia toned photo, taken side on from the foreshore of a set of wooden stairs leading down from the river wall to the foreshore surface. The other is a modern photo looking down onto the foreshore of a group of people recording timber baseplates at the base of a set of stairs. The river and Millennium Bridge can be seen in the background.
We're delighted that this year's Annual Lecture will be with Gustav Milne and Angela Broomfield on New Research on the City Foreshore.
Join us on 22nd May, 7:00pm at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL or online on Zoom.
www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annu...
#London #Archaeology 🏺
A group of people working on the Thames foreshore at low tide. They are planning a series of baseplate timbers which are situated at the base of a modern set of river stairs. The foreshore surface is gravelly, and tinged red due to the amount of brick and tile that is deposited there. There are three baseplate timbers, two running perpendicular towards the river, and the third at right angles to make a U shape. They are approximately 3 metres long, and from a dark wood, possibly oak, with some large mortice holes cut into their topside. Lower down the foreshore near the river's edge, there are further lines of timber piles, in line with the baseplates, roughly 50cm - 1 metre high. There is a long tape stretched down the length of the foreshore, and from that people are taking measurements to do planned drawings of the features. The Thames is running behind them, with Millennium Bridge spanning towards the Tate Modern.
Join us for our AGM and Annual Lecture on Thursday 22nd May 2025, 7:00pm
At @uclarchaeology.bsky.social or online.
This year's Annual Lecture will be: New Research on the City Foreshore with Gustav Milne and Angela Bloomfield
www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annu...
#London #Archaeology 🏺
The photo is of foreshore features at Trig Lane being recorded by the team from UCL Institute of Archaeology and CRaFT, 2024 (Photo: C Frearson @lofttroll.bsky.social)
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.
A group of people working on the Thames foreshore at low tide. They are planning a series of baseplate timbers which are situated at the base of a modern set of river stairs. The foreshore surface is gravelly, and tinged red due to the amount of brick and tile that is deposited there. There are three baseplate timbers, two running perpendicular towards the river, and the third at right angles to make a U shape. They are approximately 3 metres long, and from a dark wood, possibly oak, with some large mortice holes cut into their topside. Lower down the foreshore near the river's edge, there are further lines of timber piles, in line with the baseplates, roughly 50cm - 1 metre high. There is a long tape stretched down the length of the foreshore, and from that people are taking measurements to do planned drawings of the features. The Thames is running behind them, with Millennium Bridge spanning towards the Tate Modern.
Join us for our AGM and Annual Lecture on Thursday 22nd May 2025, 7:00pm
At @uclarchaeology.bsky.social or online.
This year's Annual Lecture will be: New Research on the City Foreshore with Gustav Milne and Angela Bloomfield
www.londonarchaeologist.org.uk/agm-and-annu...
#London #Archaeology 🏺
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.
www.pre-construct.com/news/new-pub...
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 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.
A colourful stoneware Chinese lion. It has a spiral-patterned mane running down it's back in a honey yellow glaze and a green glazed body. It is sitting, and it's mouth is wide open, showing it's hollow body. There is some damage to it's bottom jaw, and most of it is missing.
On the Cover this issue!
This Chinese fire-breathing lion was found during excavations which were conducted from 1998 - 2018 at Bermondsey Square.
Photo © PCA/Strephon Duckering
#London #Archaeology 🏺
She has her ways.... 😂
Ha! It maybe!
Looking forward to seeing the article!
Research:
The Prehistory of Greenwich Wharf
Enid Allison et al
Evidence for Roman and Later Activity, St Swithin's Lane
Jessica Bryan and Sadie Watson @drsadiewatson.bsky.social
Obituary: Timothy Darvill, OBE
Plus book review, letter, commentary, news, and diary
Features (cont.):
LA Publication Prize: A good read - judges' comments for the runners-up
Museums Update: London Museum update @londonmuseum.bsky.social
The front cover of London Archaeologist Spring 2025, Volume 17, Number 8 featuring a colourful stoneware fire-breathing lion. It was found during excavations which were conducted from 1998—201 8 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.
Our Spring 2025 issue is out!
In Volume 17, Number 8:
Features:
Findspot: The aurochs skeleton from Ewell, Surrey @pcaarchaeology.bsky.social
Author, Author... London Archaeological Prize winner 2024 - Jonathan Gardner speaks to @bwallower.bsky.social
#London #archaeology 🏺
A section of London's first basilica has been uncovered by MOLA at 85 Gracechurch Street. We're looking forward to hearing how this working develops!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A section of a ditch on an excavation on a building site, with scaffolding in the background. The section is of dark earth contrasting with the lighter natural. Two ditches and a bank are visible at the base of the section
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.
Here's two 12th-century ditches excavated at Bedale Street as part of Thameslink fieldwork ©Oxford Archaeology & Pre-Construct Archaeology.
An aerial shot of a group of archaeologists in hi viz with blue hardhats working on a large open area excavation, surrounded by herris fencing. In the foreground there is a stone coffin, then a ditch and line of post holes running parallel with the remains of a cobbled road surface
Not 1, but 2 articles about #Southwark in our Winter 2025 issue!
Rebecca Haslam and Ireneo Grosso draw on work at Harper Road and Brandon House, and reappraise existing evidence to revise the model of Roman roads in Southwark.
Stane Street under excavation at Harper Road ©Pre-Construct Archaeology
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.