As part of our ongoing site investigations for the Thames Tunnel, we need to undertake some more boreholes on the river.
The boreholes will be about 15m deep and will provide us with information about the geology near the foreshore.
The Museum of London will be involved in the investigations. We will be sharing the collected samples and results of the surveys with them to support their research on the archeology of the River Thames.
Jane Corcoran, Museum of London Archaeology specialist, said:
“Ancient and modern artefacts are often collected from the surface of the Thames foreshore by archaeologists and volunteers, but we know virtually nothing about the deeper layers beneath the riverbed. Through these investigations we might find evidence for islands, which once formed dry stepping stones across the river; as well as other natural layers that were formed at the end of the last Ice Age. The top layers will have formed over the past few hundred years or so and will be mixed with bone, pottery and other debris carried upstream by the tide.
If we are lucky we may even find prehistoric flint tools or even a Roman ring. Going deeper, the more intact archaeological layers offer insight into the prehistoric floodplains and should provide new information about prehistoric communities and their surrounds that we would never normally be able to obtain. So, this work really is a unique opportunity to learn more about the early history of the capital and the first Londoners.”
We have appointed the Port of London Authority to do this work on our behalf. The site investigations boat (pictured) will temporarily anchor in each location to drill the boreholes.
Each borehole will take about two hours with working hours restricted to between 8am-6pm. The works are not expected to be noisy.
The programme of works is due to start on 25 April 2012 and take approximately two weeks to complete, depending on tides.
Below is a list of the sites where the boreholes will be done. Click on the relevant site to view a map showing the borehole locations.
- Chambers Wharf
- Nine Elms
- Victoria Embankment
- Blackfriars
- Albert Embankment
- Carnwath Road
- Chelsea Embankment
