Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames

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I actually bought this on a visit to London earlier this year, not far from London Bridge and the actual Mudlark Pub it turns out, and am now kicking myself for not stopping in for a pint or checking the nearby riverbanks to see if the author was out on a 'lark. The Thames is one of the greatest and largest archaeological sites in the world, and the entire history of Britain can be told from items found on the foreshore. As it is a non-fiction historical journey, I read it while reading other books hence the length of time it took me to finish it. If the object is believed to be of historical interest, it must be reported to Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Museum of London, within one month of being found.

I had no idea the construction of the old bridge slowed the water to such an extent the river froze over in harsh winters. Recommended reading for amateur and professional historians and genealogists; archaeologists; aquaphiles; environmentalists; museum lovers and the curious.If the object is believed to be treasure, it must be reported to the coroner for the district in which it was found, within 14 days.

However she makes mention several times throughout the book that she won't share specific locations. From fairly modern items discarded or lost by Londoners or tourists to pieces that hark back to the days of old, this is a compelling and highly interesting read. It shows the findings of 80 different mudlarks, and contains lots of photographs and information about the history of London. I ran down to the Thames and pulled out my first treasure: a broken clay pipe last smoked by someone in the 18th Century.When, during one of her daybreak larking stints, she finds a body, “arms outstretched, her long hair spread out like a soft halo”, she feels not horror but fellowship: “I was the first to be with her after her final and most private moment. Additionally, Jason recommends checking out other mudlarkers’ social media pages, where finds, tips, events and other details are often shared. When Maiklem came across a sixteenth-century posy ring, she had to report it to the Museum of London as potential Treasure (which under UK law belongs to the Crown or to the City of London) so they could decide if they wanted to purchase it from her.

It's lovely to find coins and things, but you can't beat finding something like a flint tool because of [its] age and how special [it is] to find and hold. Mudlarks were a chiefly London phenomenon because few port cities had as large, exposed riverbanks where they could descend to do their work.When you apply for a standard permit you need to upload a passport style photograph, and allow a minimum of 4 weeks for processing. Hunters – usually men – are goal orientated and tend to employ metal detectors; the shoreline is “a battlefield” of “petty feuding, territorial disputes, jealousies, fierce competition and paranoia”. By regulating mudlarking with permits, it help to protects the historical integrity of the riverbed, and makes it more likely that people will respect the archeological significance of items they find. The only thing I would have wished for was more pictures - there were some glossy photographs in the middle of the book that showed some of her finds, but I often wanted to see something she described that wasn't among the photos. Her finds also get recorded in a nationwide Portable Antiquities Scheme database with 1 million+ items: in this way, mudlarks are contributing to citizen science.