This wasn’t quite was I was expecting, more a history of the Thames with some mud larking finds along the way, not really for me.

Have you ever dreamed of going on a treasure hunt?
But did you believe that this was something you could only experience via books and movies?
Think again!


"Mudlarking is an amazing hobby which brings people into real contact with history."
Ian Smith, a founding member and long-serving chairman of The Society of Thames Mudlarks & Antiquarians

Mudlarking is something everybody can do - even tourists - at the River Thames in London (UK).
Jason Sandy and Nick Stevens are experienced mudlarks and together they wrote the perfect introduction to their fascinating hobby!
Despite the fact that this book counts only 97 pages, you'll be amazed by the amount of info that's offered and by the beautiful pictures.


"We are unable to travel back in time, but by finding an object which has not been touched since it was lost hundreds or even thousands of years ago, it is possible to develop a greater understanding of the people who lived at that time."
Jason Sandy and Nick Stevens, Thames Mudlarking (2021)

Because of its close proximity to the sea, the water level of the River Thames in London fluctuates by at least 7 metres with the incoming and outgoing tides, twice a day.
When it's low tide and the murky water of the river slowly recedes, the exposed riverbed in London becomes the longest archaeological site in the UK.
Lots of historically significant artefacts can then be found just by walking around on the exposed foreshore. There exist a variety of methods to search for interesting objects: some do it 'by eye' while others use a trowel, sieve or metal detector. But it all comes down to the same thing: "the act of searching the riverbed for historical treasures". And that's what mudlarking is all about.
The reason why these objects are well preserved is that they've been protected thanks to the dense and anaerobic (oxygen-free) mud.
How come then that daily new objects can be found? Well, this has to do with the fact that they get exposed by erosion and the waves of passing boats.


"Ever since man first quenched his thirst in its waters, he has left his mark on the riverbed."
Ivor Noël Hume, Treasure in the Thames (1956)

There's already been 2.000 years of human activity along the River Thames.
Can you imagine the amount of objects that were discarded or lost unintentionally in its waters during all those years?
The authors present some of the most extraordinary artefacts in chronological order. From the most historically significant, beautiful masterpieces (such as the Battersea Shield and Waterloo Helmet) to ornate personal items such as jewellery and fashion accessories which reveal the popular styles throughout the ages. The range of discussed (and almost always illustrated) artefacts is very broad. This gives you an interesting view on the evolution of London throughout history and also on time-related customs.
Not everything is told in detail. But this introduction certainly mentions lots of names and events, which form a good starting point for the readers who want to search for more info. One of the most interesting and respectful aspects of this book is that for every item that's discussed (and there are a lot of them) credits are given to the mudlarks who found the objects. That way you can search on the internet for more information about these people and you often find beautiful pictures and interesting articles.


"It's not what you find, it's what you find out."
Professor David Hurst Thomas

During the 19th century, the original Victorian mudlarks (mostly children) scavenged for anything on the exposed riverbed which they could sell in order to survive.
Current mudlarks however are often people who're interested in history and in expanding our knowledge of past generations.

In 1980, the Society of Thames Mudlarks & Antiquarians was founded and the members were granted a special mudlarking licence from the Port of London Authority, which recorded the extraordinary artefacts found by Society members.
To this very day, it's mandatory to obtain a Thames Foreshore Permit from the Port of London Authority before you go mudlarking and all objects from 300 years or older must be reported to the Museum of London. These are then recorded on the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), an online database which can be consulted on https://finds.org.uk

There's also a new project to which the authors contribute: the Thames Museum.
It will be specifically dedicated to the history and archaeology of the River Thames and the most important aspect will be 'hands-on history'.
The latest news about this project can be found on the website www.thamesmuseum.org


Do you want more?
You can head over to my blog ( https://world-of-tau.blogspot.com/2021/07/mudlarking.html ) to see a movie in which Jason Sandy takes us along on a virtual mudlarking tour and shows some of his magnificent discoveries.
There are also more links to books and websites about the interesting subject of mudlarking.
And who knows?
Maybe someday you'll discover some treasures yourself at the River Thames!


*Thanks to NetGalley and Osprey Publishing for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've always been interested in mudlarking, so this book was a perfect fit for me! I think that it could have been slightly more detailed (it felt like it was aimed at a younger reading), but I loved that Sandy and Stevens used mudlarking to visit various points in London's history. I hope that as people read this, they will realise that mudlarking is a wonderful way to visit the past!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the eARC of this book.

This was really fun. A series of themes looking at items found by mudlarkers (people who search estuaries for treasure/trash) in London's Thames river. It covers all sorts of treasures and brings in some history as well to create skillfully rendered little snapshots of life in times gone by. It's a beautifully produced book and I loved being able to enjoy detailed, high quality images of the objects described.

Highly recommended for the London lover or archaeology nerd in your life.

I love this little book (it's only 90 pages or so), and it is chock full of color photos, English history and mudlarking adventures. Everything from coins, wig curlers, clay pipes, and religious offerings are featured. A must have for any historian, mudlarker, and general Thames enthusiast.

One of my goals in the not to distant future is to travel to the UK and do a little mudlarking myself. With the way travel restrictions are right now, I have to make due with YouTube videos and fantastic guides like this one.

Thames Mudlarking is a fascinating look at the a niche modern archaeology obsession, searching for lost and abandoned treasures presented by Jason Sandy & Nick Stevens. Due out 18th May 2021 from Bloomsbury on their Shire imprint, it's 96 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats (ebook available now).

I was captivated at a very early age by stories of treasure. I grew up in an area of the USA which provided a wealth of hunting opportunities for indigenous artifacts after every summer storm. In fact I *still* have a carefully grooved, shaped, and well used stone hammer which is thousands of years old on my bookshelf. I'm fascinated by the people who lived and valued these objects and lost them or possibly tossed them into rivers to be found by people not-yet-dreamt-of to find and treasure.

This book resonated on a visceral level with me. I loved seeing every one of the pictures and reading the accompanying stories. The introduction (who, what, where, how, and not least *why*), is followed by thematic chapters elucidating different time periods, uses, and classes of items, from fossils to ceremonial items, votives and offerings, coins and, well, pretty much anything in between which might've been dumped or lost into the Thames throughout time.

The book is illustrated throughout with photos from the authors' personal collections as well as stock photos. There are an amazing variety of items both precious and utterly mundane. Some of the ones which really touched me were the toys, lost or abandoned throughout time. I was reminded of my own experience as a child losing a beloved toy over the side of a ferry, lost forevermore.

This is emphatically *not* a how-to guide, although enough information is provided on how to contact The Society of Thames Mudlarks & Antiquarians (and presumably they can point enthusiastic would-be mudlarks toward the proper licenses and permits and safety instructions). The authors have included a short list of resources for further reading and information as well as an abbreviated index.

This would make a superlative selection for library or classroom acquisition, or for fans of archaeology and history.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I would like to thank netgalley and Osprey Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting look into mudlarking. Beautiful pictures and a very basic history of London.

This book provides a fascinating overview of mudlarking, the history of London and of the Thames River. Written in easily understandable terms, it's a quick read. It's a nice bonus that it starts with ancient history and works it's way to present. Photos of found objects provide context and illustrate the amazing variety of items uncovered by mudlarkers. This book makes me want to visit London and go mudlarking. I recommend this book to serious and casual fans of history.

4 stars

Explore the history of thousands of years of life along the Thames through artifacts found on its muddy shores. Documented with photographs & research, this book showcases a wealth of found items & introduces the culture & community of modern day mudlarkers.

[What I liked:]

•I’d read about mudlarkers in a historical context, so it was exciting to see a book on the history & modern context of treasure hunting along the mud flats banking the Thames! For one, I didn’t know there is an association of mudlarkers & antiquarians, & you have to get a permit to go mudlarking, but it’s neat to know the group exists to protect artifacts & as a community for those invested in the hobby.

•The book establishes why the Thames is such a central part of London (& England’s) history, & how much can be learned from the bits of the past that wash up from it. From pre-historic fossils of flora & fauna, to 20th C. jewelry, this book traces the history of found objects & weaves them all into a story. It’s well written & researched, & I learned a lot.

•The photos are wonderful, showcasing the great variety of artifacts found by mudlarks. There are daily life tools, lost & broken items, & amazing pieces of art left in the water as sacrifices by earlier cultures. The provenance, dating, & context of the items are documented alongside the photographs.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Some of the photos are not very large. Since I read this on Kindle I could zoom in on the photos, though.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Nobody is totally immune to the lure of treasure hunting and this latest addition to the Shire book series fuels that fascination. The book sets out what mudlarking is and the legal framework within which it sits. What follows is a well illustrated guide to some of the finds people have made. It is arranged chronologically so is ipso facto a history of London through it material culture. There really is nothing to detract from this book which like all in the series inspires you to take an interest, sparked within its pages, further.

#ThamesMudlarking #NetGalley

A short but short but utterly fascinating look at mudlaking

The book is laid out chronologically through history there is a chapter on what mudlarking and the science behind it, which I found interesting.

It starts with the fossils that have been found and categorised, and ends with more modern discoveries, like bottles, buttons and jewelry.

This would make a wonderful addition to any historian and or treasure hunter’s book collection.

Highly recommended

I have an interest in objects which have been discovered after many years of being buried. Whether it is fossils found on beaches, to Roman finds at Archaeological sites. I
I have heard about Mudlarking before, and had seen a few videos on social media, but I wasn't sure if they were authentic or not. When I heard about this book I was very interested to read it.
This book is quite short, and it is divided into sections to make it easier to read. I didn't find that the section titles necessarily fitted the chapters. They were in chronological order, which didn't necessarily fit the sections.
The photo quality in this book is excellent. The explanation and history could have been a bit more detailed, but it was explained well and easy to understand.
I found it fascinating that in a part of the Thames which is only accessible for short amounts of time can have such rich and varied finds. Some of the more recent finds are fossils and prehistoric bones which have been preserved by the mud. Such a small area can show a huge amount of history.
I knew that these days you need a license for Mudlarking, but it only used to be done by the poorest members of society, usually children. It is good that most finds go to the Museum of London, and there are plans for a dedicated Museum.
I found this book was interesting and informative. It has definitely piqued my interest, and I would love to learn more about Mudlarking.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This isn’t a book I’d normally gravitate to, but I was intrigued by the idea that the Thames is full of hidden treasures that appear with the tides. Mudlarking is a fascinating topic, and the history that is revealed and brought to life with the missing items is definitely worth a read.

Twice a day, the River Thames undergoes high tide which stirs up the river bottom and centuries of detritus buried in it. At low tide, people search the riverbanks, collecting the newly exposed treasures. This was not exactly l what I expected, but I love what it is. I thought it would be an interesting picture book cataloguing some interesting historical items. And while there ARE dozens of color photos of found items from From fossils and arrowheads to bejeweled cufflinks and Georgian buckles to a full skull, these photos are an intrinsic part of a unique telling of the history of London, This was a fascinating book that I am looking forward to rereading... and mudlarking in the Thames has just been added to my bucket list. Thanks to NetGalley and Osprey Publishing for the opportunity to read Thames Mudlarking in return for my honest opinions.

The Society of Thames Mudlarks & Antiquarians (what a wonderful name!) was founded in 1980. Members, who need a special permit to search the mudflats, have donated many thousands of items to the Museum of London and some of them illustrate this interesting book. They range from a megalodon tooth, to 17th century lead seals from the Company of Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa, to medals and other memorabilia from both world wars. The format is a chronological potted history of London, written in very simple language so that I wondered if it’s aimed more at children than adults. The photography is excellent and the range of objects fascinating. I can imagine buying this as a reminder of a visit to the museum.

This is exactly the kind of thing I would love to take Eleanor off to London to do. I mean, we'd obviously see many other sights too, but imagine it! Mudlarking! You have to get a special permit and everything, but I can not imagine a better way to spend an afternoon in one of my favorite countries, than searching for lost bits of history. Of course, the chances of finding something rare or centuries-old is slim, but I also think those ordinary bits are just as important - an item dropped by accident, forever lost to the Thames, the owner thinks. Yet the objects discovered sometimes end up memorializing those every-day individuals who crossed the Thames time and again just going about their daily lives.

Obviously I really liked he book.

My only complaint is no fault of the publisher. I prefer my plain old regular Kindle to the Kindle Fire, so the images were all in black and white. Even when viewed this way, they were gorgeous and so much detail was preserved, thanks to the everlasting secret-keeping of the Thames and her mud. I can only imagine how stunning the objects would be in color - or in real life, even better. This is definitely a book to own in physical form, if this subject interests you. Many will probably call it a coffee table book, but this one really is meant to be read. I also found myself Googling more images as I read, and found some neat treasures.

Until I read this book, I did not know 'mudlarking' was a thing, or that it even had this delightful name. I mean, it probably occurred to me at some point in the beginning of my love affair with the UK that the Thames would hold untold windows to the past, and you could easily go down and poke around to see what there is to be found. But aside from that, it is not something I gave much more thought to until this book popped up on a friend's reading shelf over on Goodreads.

The authors are mudlarkers themselves and the book opens by talking about who mudlarkers are and what they do. Each section following this was broken up by the kinds of items found, into categories. First the authors provide context for the items in brief histories of the periods discussed, which is helpful. I found that this way worked quite well, instead of dividing it up by the time periods to which the pieces belonged. The author provides information at the end of the text about how to get involved in mudlarking, as well as associated places to see around London, which I appreciated.

I was also interested to learn that a Thames Museum will be opening in the future. Currently objects found are often displayed in the Museum of London. It is also required that mudlarks must report finds to the authorities on any object three hundred years or older. It is comforting to see some regulation in this; just imagine what treasures might have disappeared into private collections were permits and such not required. Of course, we will never know all that was found by those early mudlarks - those Victorians who still seem to be a step ahead even though they're two hundred years behind us now.

There are so many treasures detailed in this book, I hardly know where to begin. We are treated to an assortment of beautiful objects, some for special occasions and some for daily use. Coins and market tokens are heavily represented here and I loved looking at the various designs - especially the Celtic coins and Hadiran's as well.. Also on display are various children's toys depicting knights, glass beads, clothing pins, clay pipes, and those specially designed Victorian-era hexagonal glass bottles that once contained poisons of many kinds.

The heartbreaking discovery included here was that of the skeleton of a twelve year old girl. Though the details of her short life are lost to history, experts determined that she had suffered from rickets, stunted growth especially evident between the ages of one and two. This poor child suffered from hunger and I want so badly to know more about her. I looked up further information about this discovery and what the area would have looked like when she died. I felt much better in knowing that she was not simply tossed into the river, and that she had been buried there, based on the findings of the research team.

I also learned of the floating prisons that once dotted the Thames, and how terrible the conditions were. That information made the discovery of an 18th century ball and chain all the more interesting. The lock was still closed, so what does it mean? Was it tossed carelessly into the river one day when no longer needed? Or did a prisoner attempt an escape, only to drown due to the weight? We will never know.

Highly fascinating and absolutely recommended.

I saw this book discussed on Twitter and thought it seemed fascinating, so I was very excited to be given the opportunity to read an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thames Mudlarking: Searching For Lost Treasures is a lovely book for a cosy weekend at home, giving insight into what mudlarking is, the kinds of treasures that have been found to date and how to get involved if it sparks your interest.

There are some gorgeous images of the items discovered and my particular favourites were the everyday objects (a Medieval pewter knight toy lost by a child) and the Roman decorative items (elaborate brooches and hair pins).

The book also provides a bit of brief background to the various historical periods discussed and has some interesting little details – i.e.: how Pudding Lane got its name.

Mudlarking is adding a great deal to our understanding of the past, particularly in respect of ordinary items and the lives of the people who used them, and I would be very interested to visit the Thames Museum to see some of the finds in person one day.

A great coffee table book for anyone with an interest in history and beautiful objects.

I must admit I've been fascinated by this subject for a few years now so I couldn't wait to read this and it proved well worth my time.It opens with a description about just who and what Mudlarkers are and then moves on to discuss the finds by time periods.Who found what along with photos and perhaps some history on the object.It seemed a little disorganized at times because the chapters were titled a little strangely such as,"War,fire,love," or "Keep calm and carry on,"and the like.I thought the author should just title the chapters by time periods to make it make a little more sense.Other than that I found everything highly interesting.My favorite objects being in the Medieval and Tudor periods.At the end the author offers up information about how you can get into Mudlarking yourself and provides details about a Thames River Museum opening in the future designed to give the history of the river it's self along with the many,many finds.I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

Absolutely and utterly facinating!
The subject of mudlarking came to my attention several months ago when I heard a radio story about some artifacts found in the Thames. “Thames Mudlarking” caught my eye because it was a subject I knew very little about and I am so glad I was able to look through this ARC.
The book was laid out chronologically through history - after a chapter on what mudlarking was exactly and the science behind it. It started with the fossils that have been found and cataloged, and ends with more modern discoveries, like bottles, buttons and jewelry. This would make a wonderful addition to any historian and/or treasure hunter’s book collection.

This book is as much a book about mudlarking as it is a little potted history of the Thames as it flows through London. Utterly fascinating and for me worth it for the Roman oil lamp alone! The photographs are stunning and while I read the book on my Kindle I switched to my iPad immediately afterwards and spent a happy hour poring over the pictures.
It is sad that in this throwaway society that so few things from the late 20th and early 21st centuries will survive even with the Thames mud to protect them as they aren’t made to last. I hope the current environmental disaster forces us to change how we make and consume things both for the planet and for future historians!
This is a perfect coffee table book for guests to flick through and I can’t think of anyone I know who wouldn’t find it fascinating once they started reading it even if history isn’t their ‘thing’ which makes it a perfect gift.