This week we were joined by several Archaeology Ambassadors for our final event of the year. We took part in a chilly sunrise walk on the Thames foreshore with experts from our flagship project, the Thames Discovery Programme, before a warming festive brunch and finds display back at our office in London.
The Thames Discovery Programme works tirelessly throughout the year with volunteers to record and monitor the fast-eroding archaeology of the Thames foreshore, preserving its knowledge for future generations. On the walk, our Ambassadors learned about the rich archaeological deposits that are continually being uncovered on the foreshore by the daily tides as well as the erosion and damage that the water is causing to the river wall. Under the expert guidlance of Nathalie and Josh the group discovered animal bone, tobacco pipes, Roman pottery, Victorian river wall, decaying barge beds and also spied a garnet gem stone peeking out of the mud!
After working up an appetite climbing over the uneven foreshore surface and searching for artefacts, our Ambassadors joined us back at our London office for a festive brunch and a fascinating display of finds with our Senior Finds Specialist, Michael Marshall. With mince pies in hand, we viewed a range of interesting artefacts from Roman writing tablets and shoes to bottles, brooches and oil lamps. The foreshore walk and festive brunch were a lovely way to end 2017 with our Archaeology Ambassadors and the Thames Discovery Programme.
If you would like to find out more about becoming an Archaeology Ambassador please contact support@mola.org.uk. To find out more about the work of the Thames Discovery Programme and their programme of free public training and events, please visit www.thamesdiscovery.org
