"There, they unearthed more than 60 struck flint flakes, including one worked tool, likely dating to the late Mesolithic or early Neolithic period (around 4300 BCE). They were previously undisturbed in sand deposits that once formed part of Thorney Island, where prehistoric communities are believed to have fished, hunted, and gathered food. These finds offer a closer look at early human life in present-day central London."
"Experts additionally unearthed a Medieval leather boot, shoe soles, and straps; fragments of decorated clay tobacco pipes dating to the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster after the 1834 fire; a Roman altar fragment believed to be over 2000 years old; a lead flowering heart badge from the 14th to 15th century; a 19th-century five-pint beer jug inscribed with "Geo Painter", a tavern owner of the historic Ship and Turtle Tavern in London's Leadenhall area; and decorated Medieval Westminster floor tile."
Archaeological excavations at the Palace of Westminster revealed evidence of human activity dating to around 4300 BCE, predating early Stonehenge earthworks. More than 60 struck flint flakes, including one worked tool, were recovered from preserved sand deposits that formed part of Thorney Island, indicating Mesolithic or early Neolithic presence and subsistence activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering. Additional finds span centuries and include a Roman altar fragment, Medieval leather footwear and floor tile, a lead flowering heart badge, decorated clay pipe fragments from the 1834 reconstruction, and a 19th-century beer jug. The discoveries inform understanding of long-term site use and support restoration planning.
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