finds from the tower beach
TRANSCRIPT
Finds from the Tower: 2,000 years of foreshore Ben PaitesFinds Liaison Officer (Essex)
Periods represented by the PAS in London
The Tower of London
Some contextSome Late Iron Age activity (Wallace, L. 2015)Roman activity for around 400 years.
Initial construction – Late 11th century (William the Conqueror)
The outer walls built
WWII – significant damage to the Tower of London
0
410
1066
1200
1300
1939-45
2015
Surveys at the Tower
2010 PAS presence20112012 PAS presence2013 PAS presence20142015
A week-long survey with an open weekend for the public.
c. 400m of foreshore.
London before Londinium
Not survey –Iron Age glass bead (LON-041951)
Nothing from the surveys
Several flints from Palaeo-Neolithic
Nothing from the Bronze Age (directly in front of the Tower)
Some pottery and a glass bead from the Iron age
The Roman foreshore
The Tower foreshore
Britain
Some other finds
2013 survey – Roman Aucissa Non-survey find – Medallion of Marcus Aureliustype brooch (LON-9F78A0) as Caesar (LON-8553C1)
Early Medieval LondonNot from the surveys - Carolingian strap set including:
4 strap ends2 strap slides1 strap loop
9th century zoomorphic strap end (LON-B3C3C1)
Medieval activity at the Tower
2010 survey - 15th century sewing ring (LON-DD0938)
Craft industries
Not-Survey - Late 15th century ceramic spindle whorl (LON-370317)
Armour
2012 survey - Late 14th century chainmail (LON-BC28F5)
Not Survey – 13th-14th century barbed arrowhead (LON-ECF872)
2013 survey - 17th century Curry comb (LON-B84AA2)
Horses and other animalsThe Post Medieval foreshore
Weapons
2012 survey - 17th century Pappenheimer rapier (LON-
D29987)
2013 survey – 17th-19th century blown rifle (LON-C9F4D7)
Recreation
2012 survey – lead die (LON-BED161)
2010 survey – AD1550-1700 book fitting (LON-8D58A3)
Coins from the Tower mint
Not survey – clipped halfpenny, uncertain ruler (LON-9567D3)
Other themes
Not Survey – Mis-struck farthing of Charles I (LON-FD1C63)
International relations
2010 survey – 17th century star costrel handle from Seville (LON-75B78F)
Not survey – AD1489 Double Mite of Philip I of Castille, minted in Ghent (LON-0B34D7)
Children
2012 survey – AD1636-46 lead alloy toy frying pan (LON-A6B625)
Not survey – lead alloy finger ring (LON-D33DC6)
Decadence
Not survey – AD1500-50 Silver gilt dress hook with stone settings (2008 T484/LON-763994)
Not survey – 17th century silver grooming set (2011 T350/LON-F6F381)
Concluding remarksEverything you see is what you would expect to see from such a site:
Military evidence
Animal grooming and care
Small scale industry
Children at play
Domestic waste fitting a Royal palace
Contact details:
Email – [email protected]
Phone – 01206 506961
Twitter - @BenPaites
Thank you for listening!