Lockwood Reservoirs Archaeology

This reservoir was once thought to be a scene of a Viking Burial

Location: Lea Valley

Description: Lockwood Reservoir is one of Thames Water's storage reservoirs supplying drinking water to London. It dates back to 1903 when during construction a number of significant archaeological artefacts were found dating back to the early prehistoric period onwards.

Two of the key artefacts were a log boat and the remains of a 16th or 17th century boat. The remains of the dug out canoe or log boat, were uncovered in 1901 and it's not been able to accurately date but it could be prehistoric.

An inverted clinker-built boat was recovered in 1938 and was found covering a skeleton, although, the reports of the skeleton remain unsubstantiated. The boat was initially thought to have been Viking, but radiocarbon dates show that it dates from the 16th or 17th century.

Other significant artefacts recovered include 4 swords, 3 spearheads, a Neolithic polished adze, a palaeolithic flint, flake and Roman pottery and tiles.

Two of the four swords are recorded as being Viking, one is Saxon and one dates from the Iron Age.

Themes: Ancient Ancient Theme