Back Issues
The resource of 50 years of quarterly publications about London’s archaeology and only London’s archaeology is invaluable – and a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the subject.
Recent issues
Although the last two years of LA are only available to subscribers, you can also buy individual issues from the membership secretary. To see what was in recent issues published over the past two years, you can scroll through the contents lists below.
Older back issues
And if you’d like to access pdfs of all the magazines published more than two years ago, all the way back to 1968, you can find them through the Archaeology Data Service. A year’s worth of LA issues is uploaded at a time to ADS, once a year in the autumn.
You can also search for articles by location on the Layers of London website, using the London Archaeologist Articles layer. To find out more about Layers of London and how to view London Archaeologist articles, watch our 2020 Annual Lecture with Adam Corsini.
Recent issues
Although the last two years of LA are only available to subscribers, you can also buy individual issues from the membership secretary. To see what was in recent issues published over the past two years, you can scroll through the contents lists below.
Older back issues
And if you’d like to access pdfs of all the magazines published more than two years ago, all the way back to 1968, you can find them through the Archaeology Data Service. A year’s worth of LA issues is uploaded at a time to ADS, once a year in the autumn.
You can also search for articles by location on the Layers of London website, using the London Archaeologist Articles layer. To find out more about Layers of London and how to view London Archaeologist articles, watch our 2020 Annual Lecture with Adam Corsini.
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 8 / Spring 2022 Features Archaeology News: More discoveries at Landmark Court A new discovery of two decorative mosaic panels in Southwark Street reinforces the suggestion of another high-status building south of the river Museum Visit: Community heritage in Southwark Becky Wallower visits Walworth Library, which now incorporates the Southwark Heritage Centre and the historic Cuming Museum Archaeology Update: The future of the Royal Mint site Will plans for the future Chinese Embassy be affected by the past excavation of a Black Death cemetery and Cistercian abbey in East Smithfield? Research Prehistoric Activity at Ive Farm, Leyton Excavations have revealed further evidence relating to the prehistoric development of the Lea Valley Shane Maher, Barry Bishop and Jon Cotton Medieval and Post-Medieval Remains in Islington Medieval ditches and post-medieval activity have revealed a series of buildings and their related finds Ireneo Grosso, with contributions from Märit Gaimster, Chris Jarrett and Berni Sudds The Industrial Landscape at Tottenham Hale Excavations at Hale Wharf provided an opportunity to examine the mill complex during the 16th to 19th centuries set in the industrial landscape of Tottenham Hale Ellen Green Plus book review, letter, commentary, news, and diary |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 7 / Winter 2022 Features Archaeology news: Rediscovering the past at Landmark Court Excavations at 15—23 Southwark Street and Redcross Way by MOLA in 2021 have revisited earlier excavations on the same sites and will feature in the AGM Annual Lecture next May. Volunteer project: Unlock stories of St James's Burial Ground HS2 archaeologists seek citizen scientists to enhance the archaeological burial records with information from paper records. Caroline Barrie-Smith (MOLA) explains the project Significant site: Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames Roy Stephenson talked to Becky Wallower about a site with a special significance to him. His choice was a surprise, but the analysis of Eden Street's pottery revolutionised sampling Public engagement: Walthamstow's pop-up exhibition A combination of developer failure and re-examination of a PCA excavation led to developer funding for outreach in Waltham Forest, which was designed by MOLA Research A Roman Pictorial Graffito Tile Reconsidered Two known examples of pictorial graffito provide intriguing and spontaneous examples of composition, giving some insight into the informal production of art in Roman Britain Bruce Watson Southwark Cathedral: Prior's Doorway & Stoup Archaeological monitoring and limited excavations beside the Prior's doorway and stoup, prior to constructing a ramp, revealed hitherto unidentified 12th-century stone features Jackie Hall, with contributions from Kevin Hayward The Site of The Battle of Barnet An update on the published results of attempts to locate the site of the Battle of Barnet, which have proved inconclusive, but have established some suggestions for the future Bruce Watson Plus book review, letter, commentary, news and diary |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 6 / Autumn 2021 Features Investigation: Roman statue mystery Chris Constable considers the re-use of a surviving fragment of large Roman statuary as part of a 1 9th-century statue of King Alfred in Southwark. Archaeology News: The 'Hillingdon Hoard' As part of the HS2 construction, archaeologists excavating in West Ruislip have found an important Iron Age potin coin hoard. Findspot: London's Roman Tools Owen Humphreys discusses one aspect of his new book on tools from Roman London — one of the largest and most important collections in Europe Society Centenary: CADHAS Clive Orton, a long-term member of the Carshalton & District History and Archaeology Society, reviews the past and future of a local London society celebrating its centenary Research Roman Cremations at Old Ford Lying close to the settlement at Old Ford, this site produced many pits and ditches, with some cremations and a possible bustum burial Neil Hawkins, with contributions from Enikő Hudák, James Langthorne and Kate Turner Londinium's Hadrianic 'War' Reviewed A re-assessment of Dominic Perring's hypothesis of an early 2nd-century insurrection, and a review of the evidence. Bruce Watson Brickmaking and Brewing in Brick Lane An excavation in Block C of the former Truman's Brewery showed its development as tastes in beer changed and the production process became more complicated. Simon Pennington & Barbora Dmitričenko Obituary: Jean Macdonald Plus book review, commentary, news and diary |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 5 / Summer 2021 Features Findspot: The Highgate Wood pottery industry Harvey Sheldon considers the scope and management of the Roman kilns site in Highgate Wood and whether it was under official control. Findspot Extra: The Highgate Roman Kiln project Nick Nick Peacey, Secretary of the Friends of Highgate Roman Kiln (FoHRK), describes the plans to re-instate one of the excavated kilns back into Highgate Wood. Archaeology Update: Sites Unseen We highlight some sites, either excavated or recorded as standing buildings, from the latest Fieldwork Roundup. Research Romans at Havering's Royal Liberty School Features and finds suggest Roman occupation and supports evidence that nearby Romford might be Durolitum. Helen Chittock with Julie-Anne Bouchard Perron, Trista Clifford, Anna Doherty and Rae Regensberg The River Wandle and Croydon through Time Excavations, showing sporadic periods of activity dating from the Mesolithic/early Neolithic period onwards, indicate that the River Wandle was an important factor Sian Anthony and Rob Engl Plus book reviews, commentary, news and diary |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 4 / Spring 2021 Features Author, Author...: Masterwork The winners of the biennial London Archaeological Prize were Warwick Rodwell and David Neal for their 20-year research project and publication of the medieval Cosmatesque mosaics in Westminster Abbey. Becky Wallower interviewed the authors of this landmark publication. LA Publication Prize: A Good Read Due to the high standard of the publications nominated for the recent LA Publication Prize, here is the opportunity to read the judges' comments for the runners-up. Access to Archaeology: Digging London Ian Blair and John Burke-Easton have launched a new website to record the memories of archaeologists, past and present. Ian Blair and John Burke-Easton Research Prehistoric Landscapes and a Later Deer Park Neolithic pits, Bronze Age agriculture and a medieval deer park — how the landscape developed over time at Beddington Sewage Farm. Tom Wells and László Lichtenstein Lift Going Down: Roman Finds at Dyers' Hall A relatively small area excavated for a lift shaft revealed a wealth of evidence of quality Roman buildings. Joe Abrams Plus commentary, news and virtual visits |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 3 / Winter 2021 Features Just the job: Flint and fire Dr James Dilley is finding new ways of bringing the past to life with experimental archaeology. Becky Wallower found out more, via Zoom Findspot: Finds from the foreshore Lockdown in 2020 curtailed foreshore work, but provided Stuart Wyatt with the opportunity to start researching some interesting early medieval discoveries Research East London's Civil War Defences Reviewed Research has uncovered significant issues that will re- write the history of the Civil War Defences in London Peter Mills Fishing in the Medieval Thames Lead fishing net weights, from a medieval ship sunk near Blackfriars, have shed light on fishing net technology and its connections to the economy and environment Lucy Granger The Lost Eastern Wing of St James's Palace Archaeological investigations have uncovered traces of the lost part of this major royal residence Stacey Amanda Harris Plus commentary, news, book reviews and virtual visits |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 2 / Autumn 2020 Features In context: Meet the Treasurer LA welcomes Jacqui Mellows, our new Treasurer, as she takes up the reins from the late Alastair Ainsworth Access to archaeology: The CRaFT recording project Angela Broomfield, CRaFT coordinator, describes the work of volunteers who have been surveying the foreshore while recording the Thames causeways, river stairs and ferry terminals between Vauxhall and Greenwich Significant site: The Red Lion Playhouse Stephen White provides the latest information on the earliest known purpose-built playhouse Access to archaeology: London archaeology in lockdown A selection of activities conducted by units, contract or furloughed archaeologists during lockdown Research Discovering the Bucklersbury Mosaic A review of the 1 9th-century discovery of the mosaic, and how it made Victorian Londoners reshape modern identities on both a civic and personal scale Sophie Wardle Saxon and Medieval Settlement in Barking The excavations in Barking town centre revealed evidence of Saxon pits and structures and pottery of medieval date Richard Humphrey & Frank Meddens Plus commentary, news, letters, book reviews and virtual visits |
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Contents of Vol.16 No. 1 / Summer 2020 Features Access to archaeology: The Thames at War Gus Milne reviews the foreshore work of the TDP in identifying and recording existing visible evidence for the damage caused by bombing during the Blitz Site in context: Greenwich Park's future revealed Jane Sidell of English Heritage and Graham Dear, Manager of Greenwich Park, reveal plans for the development of post-medieval elements of the Park, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Archaeology in context: Older Londoners' Project Helen Johnston and Will Rathouse of TDP describe how the 3-year project brought Londoners aged over 75 to the foreshore and mined their memories of the Thames in the process Research Pre-Roman and Roman Walbrook Landscape A review of the catchment area of the Walbrook, its many tributaries and the landscape surface upon which the future development of Londinium took place Tony Taylor Inscribed Roman Brick from Westminster A fragmentary hand-inscribed graffito reveals a partial date and was probably part of a tally mark of a tiler Isa Benedetti-Whitton Investigations at West End Green, Westminster The site shows development along the west side of Edgware Road, but it was not until the 1 7th century that the area grew, becoming increasingly more urbanised due to the close proximity of the canal terminus at Paddington Ireneo Grosso Plus obituary, commentary, book reviews, news and events diary |
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Contents of Vol.15 No. 12 / Spring2020 Features In context: Mudlarking at Dowgate Peter A Clayton remembers past mudlarking on the Thames foreshore at Dowgate while Stuart Wyatt considers what is still turning up in the same area now being recorded by the PAS Stop press: Fifty years of London's archaeology The culmination of London Archaeologist's 50th anniversary celebrations is the publication of the conference proceedings. Vicki Ridgeway and Clive Orton review contributions of archaeologists past and present Exhibition preview: Bronze Age mysteries The third largest Bronze Age hoard ever found in Britain is about to go on display at the Museum of London Docklands. Becky Wallower got a special preview from Kate Sumnall, the exhibition's curator Research Prehistoric, Roman and Saxon Little Ilford Evidence from Little llford School adds to the growing understanding of the long-term settlement and land-use in a less-understood area of London Les Capon and Helen Chittock Excavation At Stepney Way, Whitechapel A summary based on the key findings from the initial post-excavation work that revealed prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval evidence with some consideration of potential research areas Stephen White Evidence from Refuse Dumping at Shoreditch Layers from a large late 1 7th- and 1 8th-century rubbish tip, known as Holywell Mount, were excavated from below the modern buildings and Phipp Street Lyn Blackmore, Kasia Olchowska and Rob Tutt Plus commentary, book reviews, news and events diary |
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Contents of Vol.15 No. 11 / Winter 2020 Features Access to archaeology: Layers of London Adam Corsini of Layers of London talks about an exciting new project, begun in collaboration with London Archaeologist Archaeological update: Sites Unseen We highlight some post-medieval sites either excavated or recorded as standing buildings, selected from the latest Fieldwork Round-up Research Industrialisation’s Impact on London Health A three-year project re-examined 2,241 of London's stored skeletons — the results reveal the differences between inner city living and life beyond Gaynor Western and Jelena Bekvalac New Evidence for Bear-Baiting in Southwark An examination of animal bones from Empire Warehouse, Southwark, has provided further information about this infamous medieval and post-medieval entertainment Les Capon and Kevin Rielly America Square Revisited A post-excavation training project reviews the finds from a 1987 excavation held in the London Archive and, combined with historical research, reveals the benefits to students and London's archaeology alike Jacqui Pearce and MAAST Plus commentary, book reviews, news and events diary |
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Contents of Vol.15 No. 10 / Autumn 2019 Features In context: Meet the new team We welcome our new Secretary, Ros Morris, and Communications Officer, Helen Johnston Just the job: Royal subjects Daniel Jackson, Curator of Historic Buildings at Hampton Court Palace, talks to Becky Wallower about excavation, publication and some upcoming research projects Archaeological update: Sites unseen We highlight aspects of four site, either excavated or increasing our knowledge of existing structures, as summarised in the latest Fieldwork Round-up Research Roman Cemetery in Southwark Excavation of 3rd- and 4th-century burials in an area within the main Southwark cemetery Neil Hawkins Excavations at Parnell Road, Bow Roman activity in Old Ford to the knowledge of this roadside settlement Ian Hogg Archaeological Archives’ Education Usage Results of a recent survey found increased educational use of archives, featuring the Museum of London Archaeological Archive as a case study On Ki Choi and Daniel Platt Early 17th-Century Stove Tile from Greenwich Discovery of fragments of a stove tile deemed to come from a high-status building thought to come from nearby Greenwich Palace Chris Jarrett Plus commentary, book reviews, news and events diary |
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Contents of Vol.15 No. 9 / Summer 2019 Features Becky Wallower makes a pilgrimage along the Thames from Greenwich, via Bankside, to Fulham to discover how three major historic properties are being restored and redisplayed An appreciation of former secretary Becky Wallower, who has stepped down from the London Archaeology committee after 15 years. Research Requiem Remembering London's Archaeology Post-war archaeology and excavations at St Swithin’s House show the problems encountered along the way Ivor Noël Hume Excavations at St Peter’s Church Petersham Exposed inhumation burials and a brick-lined vault of the Gage family, members of an affluent Thameside community Suzanne Westall and Helen Chittock St Mary Stratford Bow Workhouse, E3 Excavations at Bow Road reveal the development of a 19-century workhouse and what life was like therein Les Capon and Lucy Whittingham 18th-century Innovations in Cattle Breading Finds from 1 Dickens Square, Southwark, allowed the study of cattle development, leading to the identification of possible types or breeds Kevin Rielly Plus commentary, lots of book reviews, news and events diary |
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Contents of Vol.15 No. 8 / Spring 2019 Features Author, author…: Delivering the goods – The runaway winner of the biennial London Archaeological Prize was PCA’s ‘An immense and exceedingly commodious goods station’. Becky Wallower interviewed authors Rebecca Haslam and Guy Thompson and graphics producer Mark Roughley on the challenges of chronicling the huge Victorian industrial site of King’s Cross Goods Yard Research RECONSTRUCTING LONDON'S FORUM AND BASILICA Marsden revisits a reconstruction of the second Roman forum-basilica and measures it against the excavation evidence Peter Marsden C-14 DATED SAXON ACTIVITY IN STRATFORD Redevelopment work at Duncan House, Stratford High Street, on the west bank of the Channelsea River, uncovers wood of late 8th- to late 10th-century date Damian Goodburn and Robert Hartle POST-MEDIEVAL URBANISATION IN HOLBORN Archaeological fieldwork at 64 Lincoln’s Inn Fields reveals phases of post-medieval finds from two adjoining brick-build cesspits Pat Miller and Jacqui Pearce, with contributions from Jon Cotton 18TH-CENTURY CATTLE ‘PLAGUE’ PITS IN SOUTHWARK A group of three complete cattle skeletons from two 18th-century pits at 1 Dickens Square, Southwark, shows evidence of cattle plague Kevin Rielly plus commentary, book reviews, news and diary of events |
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Contents of Vol.15 No. 7 / Winter 2019 Features Anniversary roundup: 50 years and counting… – Becky Wallower considers LA’s anniversary activities Findspot: The first clipped silique from Southwark? – James Gerrard, Sally Gerrard and Rebeca Haslam discuss a highly unusual late Roman silver coin from Brandon House Research POST-MEDIEVAL LONDON: GROWING WORLD CITY An overview to celebrate LA@50, looking at the growth in knowledge of London in the post-edieval period over the last 50 years Jacqui Pearce INVESTIGATIONS AT FERRY LANE, WALTHAMSTOW Palaeoenvironmental and archaeological investigations at Ferry Lane suggest human activity and a nearby settlement Barry Bishop, with contributions from Rob Batchelor, Damian Goodburn, Lionello Morandi, Wayne Perkins, Kevin Rielly and Dan Young EARLY IRON AGE SETTLEMENT IN DAGENHAM Excavation of a prehistoric farmstead during a period of transition reveals significant settlement activity Helen Chittock and Les Capon, with contributions from Jon Cotton DECLINE OF LUNDENWIC AT COVENT GARDEN SITE Pits excavated just outside the settlement core provide a snapshot of the decline of Lundenwic Ian Hogg plus commentary, book review, letter to the editors, obituary, news, diary of events and special 50th anniversary pin board |