Finds from the Tower Beach

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!