AD 50 - The story of Roman London - The excavators
The excavators: MOLAS and the Museum of London
The excavations you see here were all carried out by MOLAS - that is the Museum of London Archaeological Service and we must thank MOLAS and their staff for all their help and ideas - notably Bruce Watson, who acted as majordomo for us, and also to Andy Chopping and Maggie Cox, the two photographers who provided such splendid photos.
Here is a section through the building at 1, Poultry with the archaeology below, with the layers sloping down to the Walbrook on the right. Above is the new building, which was erected while the excavations were taking place below. The excavations were finished on time and within budget.
In doing archaeological excavations of this complexity, MOLAS are one of the leading, if not THE leading contractors in the world.
Simon Thurley
Simon Thurley was the Director of the Museum of London at the time of the excavations (he has now moved on to be Chief Exectutive of English Heritage. His successor is Taryn Nixon)
Already regarded as a star among the younger generation of museum curators, he came to the Museum of London from the Royal Palaces, and has already brought a welcome wind of change to the Museum.
The London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre
When Simon Thurley arrived, there was something of a crisis at the Museum.
The former storehouse for archaeological material was full, and it looked as if the Museum would no longer be able to accept material from new excavations. However he soon discovered unused parts of another museum store at Eagle Wharf Road, situated beside the Grand Union Canal in Hackney, and he is launching this as an Archive and Research Centre.
This is an entirely new concept which aims to make the store not only accessible to professional archaeologists but opening it to wider public, so that those who wish to study the past at first hand can do so.
The funding still depends on a grant from the Lottery funds - so all contributions will be gratefully received!
