Have A Dirty Weekend On The Thames

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 95 months ago
Have A Dirty Weekend On The Thames

Spend two days getting down and dirty on the Thames foreshore next month — in the name of archaeology, of course.

Public archaeology experts DigVentures host a weekend of mudlarking — that's scavenging on the foreshore for items of archaeological interest. The weekend is hosted by mudlarking expert Steve Brooker (who's a bit of a celebrity in the mudlarking world, having been on History Channel doing his thing).

You'll be searching on the Thames mud around Greenwich, the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, including the area near the remains of Greenwich Palace. The area's trade history means there's plenty of scope for interesting finds.

Past discoveries have included Roman coins, Elizabethan dress-pins, medieval pottery and WWII munitions. But, hold your horses. If you think you're getting your hands on all sorts of buried treasure, think again — Thames mudlarkers follow a strict code of conduct, meaning anything older than 300 years old has to be taken to the Museum of London for inspection.

Still, it's a great chance to peel back some of the layers of our murky river.

Dirty Weekend on the Thames takes place 6-8 May. Tickets are £195 for the weekend and need to be booked in advance.

Last Updated 17 April 2016