Itinerary Thames Archaeology Day

13:00 – 13:45:

Steve Webster (Cotswold

Archaeology) and Alison

James (English Heritage),

speaking about excavations of

the London shipwreck.

14:00 – 14:45:

Graham Scott (Wessex

Archaeology) speaking about

the recovery of the JU88T

German WWII aircraft.

15:00 – 15:45:

Elliot Wragg (Thames

Discovery Programme)

speaking about work

undertaken by the programme

on the archaeological sites

located along the foreshore of

the River Thames.

The River Thames has long been an amazing resource for the

archaeologist having been utilized by humans since it came to occupy its

current course some 12,000 years ago. This talk will look at the history of

the archaeology of the Thames in the Greater London Area, before

looking at the Thames Discovery Programme, and more recent

discoveries that have emerged from the fast eroding foreshore.

All talks take place in the Beecroft Lecture Theatre

During dredging works for the new London Gateway Port in 2011, fragments of a German Junkers 88 bomber where recovered from the Thames Estuary. Graham Scott of Wessex Archaeology will use parts from the recovered aircraft to talk about how this important relic of the Second World War was discovered, recovered and identified and about why one piece of wreckage continues to be an archaeological mystery.

Built in Chatham in 1656 for the Cromwellian Navy, the London played a significant role in British history. After the death of Oliver Cromwell, she formed part of an English Squadron sent in 1660 to collect Charles II from the Netherlands for the Restoration. The London’s illustrious career was cut short on 7th March 1665, when she blew up at the Nore near Southend-on-Sea. Cotswold Archaeology has been commissioned by English Heritage to carry out underwater excavations throughout 2014-2015, in order to find out how much archaeological material survives.

Refreshments are provided and there will be opportunities to speak with the archaeologists and view some of the artefacts

Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6EX

01702 212511