8.1 Archaeological discoveries and London's prehistory

London's prehistoric past comes alive through archaeological discoveries. From Heathrow to Southwark, sites reveal a progression from hunter-gatherers to farmers, showcasing evolving technology and social structures over thousands of years.

The Thames Valley played a crucial role in prehistoric London. Its resources supported diverse lifestyles, from fishing to farming. The river facilitated trade and communication, while also serving as a spiritual focal point for ancient Londoners.

Archaeological Sites and Discoveries in Prehistoric London

Key prehistoric London sites

Top images from around the web for Key prehistoric London sites

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  Maelmin - reconstruction of Mesolithic... © Lisa Jarvis cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

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  Neolithic village, Stonehenge © Alan Hunt :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

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  Neolithic Art – Art and Visual Culture: Prehistory to Renaissance View original

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  Maelmin - reconstruction of Mesolithic... © Lisa Jarvis cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

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  Neolithic village, Stonehenge © Alan Hunt :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

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Top images from around the web for Key prehistoric London sites

• 

  Maelmin - reconstruction of Mesolithic... © Lisa Jarvis cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Neolithic village, Stonehenge © Alan Hunt :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Neolithic Art – Art and Visual Culture: Prehistory to Renaissance View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Maelmin - reconstruction of Mesolithic... © Lisa Jarvis cc-by-sa/2.0 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Neolithic village, Stonehenge © Alan Hunt :: Geograph Britain and Ireland View original

  Is this image relevant?

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• Heathrow Terminal 5 excavation unveiled Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements showcasing early farming communities (4000-1000 BCE)
• Vauxhall Bridge unearthed Bronze Age timber structure possibly used for rituals or ceremonies (1000-700 BCE)
• Southwark yielded Mesolithic flint tools indicating hunter-gatherer activity (10,000-4000 BCE)
• Bermondsey revealed Paleolithic hand axes representing oldest human artifacts in London (400,000-10,000 BCE)
• Battersea exposed Late Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements with evidence of metalworking (1000 BCE-43 CE)

Archaeological insights into early London

• Technological advancements traced through stone tool production techniques and metalworking skills (copper, bronze, iron)
• Settlement patterns shifted from nomadic to sedentary lifestyles developing permanent structures (roundhouses, palisades)
• Social organization evolved showing evidence of communal activities and later hierarchical structures (chiefdoms)
• Trade networks expanded indicated by presence of non-local materials (amber, jet, gold)

Prehistoric London: Lifestyle and Environment

Lifestyle of prehistoric Londoners

• Subsistence strategies progressed from hunting and gathering to agriculture and animal husbandry (wheat, barley, cattle, sheep)
• Material culture reflected in pottery styles, decoration, and personal adornments (beakers, torcs)
• Ritual practices included varied burial customs, grave goods, and possible ceremonial structures (henges, barrows)
• Craftsmanship developed in woodworking techniques and textile production (dugout canoes, woven fabrics)

Thames Valley in prehistoric settlement

• Natural resources provided fertile soil for agriculture and abundant wildlife for hunting and fishing (salmon, eels)
• Transportation facilitated by river as communication and trade route accessing wider networks via estuary
• Defensive advantages offered natural barriers and elevated ground for settlements (hillforts)
• Climate adaptations evidenced by responses to changing water levels and exploitation of different ecological zones (wetlands, forests)
• Cultural focal point emerged with ritual depositions in the river and concentration of archaeological finds along the valley (votive offerings)