The document discusses the contributions of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) to the archaeology of Greater London, detailing findings from various historical periods, including records and objects discovered. As of March 2015, the PAS had recorded 7,855 records and 8,986 objects from Greater London, with significant findings spanning from the Paleolithic to modern times. Case studies highlight notable artifacts, particularly from the medieval and later periods, emphasizing the importance of the PAS in understanding the region's archaeological history.

1. Filling in the gaps
What the Portable Antiquities Scheme can
contribute to our understanding of the
archaeology of Greater London.
EMAIL: BEN.PAITES@COLCHESTER.GOV.UK
TWITTER: @BENPAITES

2. The PAS in Greater London –
When and where?
PALAEOLITHIC 15
MESOLITHIC 75
NEOLITHIC 145
BRONZE AGE 43
IRON AGE 365
GREEK AND ROMAN
PROVINCIAL
3
ROMAN 1376
BYZANTINE 1
EARLY MEDIEVAL 100
MEDIEVAL 1695
POST MEDIEVAL 3912
MODERN 72

3. The PAS in Greater London
20.03.2015:
7,855 records
8,986 objects.

4. Mesolithic Greater London
20.03.2015:
75 records
81 objects.

5. Neolithic Greater London
20.03.2015:
145 records
238 objects.

6. Bronze Age Greater London
20.03.2015:
43 records
76 objects.

7. Iron Age Greater London
20.03.2015:
365 records
402 objects.

8. Roman Greater London
20.03.2015:
1,376 records
1,623 objects.

9. Early Medieval Greater London
20.03.2015:
100 records
112 objects.

10. Medieval Greater London
20.03.2015:
1,695 records.
1,888 objects.

11. Post Medieval Greater London
20.03.2015:
3,913 records.
4,338 objects.

12. Focus area in Greater London
The Tower of London
CROYDON
BROMLEY

13. The area of study.
c. 400m of
foreshore.

14. What you’d expect…
17th century Curry comb (LON-B84AA2) 17th century Pappenheimer rapier
(LON-D29987)

15. The Tower before the Tower

16. Total – 120 coins

17. Reece periods for coins across Britain, recorded with
the PAS

18. Unexpected finds
Iron Age glass bead
(LON-041951)
Megaphallic pendant or
weight (LON-530DE1)

19. Case Studies - Finds
240 “finds of note” in Greater London.
162 (68%) are Medieval or later in date.

20. Bronze Age Spear
(HAMP-F22239)
Foreshore find, near Pimlico.
Ehrenburg class V spearhead,
dating to the Ewart Park phase
(1200-750BC).

21. Bronze Age sword
(LON-9540B5)
Found on Brentford Ait (small islet in the
Thames).
A Wilburton type sword, dating 1240-1020
BC.
Returned to finder.

22. Iron Age Scabbard
(LON-0012B7)
Foreshore find, near Putney.
La Tene I type dagger scabbard
(350-300BC).

23. Roman Medallion
(LON-8553C1)
Foreshore find, near
Tower Bridge.
Depicts Marcus Aurelius
as Caesar.
1 of 6 medallions on the
PAS database. One of a
kind iconography.

24. Roman inscription
(LON-890B55)
[---]AE . DEAE [---]
[---]B . AVG [---]
[---]BOGIVS[---]
[---]PANNO[---]
[---]VM[---]
Found on the foreshore,
near Putney

25. Saxon drinking horn terminal
(LON-EFCF31)
Found on the foreshore,
near Lambeth.
8th century in date.
Possibly Irish in origin,
based on the interlace
decoration.

26. Medieval beast mount
(LON-B495A3)
Found on the foreshore,
near London Bridge.
No direct parallels know
of this sort.

27. Post Medieval Dividers
(LON-DD57F4)
Found on the foreshore, near
Bermondsey.
Associations with the Dutch East
India Company.
Rare to be housed in a metal
container.

28. Thank you for listening!