As well as my duties with the communications team at Fulham Palace, I have also been moonlighting as a volunteer FROG with Thames Discovery Programme. FROG stands for Foreshore Recording and Observation Group, a crack team of passionate amateur archaeologists who are responsible for recording finds of historical importance along the length of the Thames.
After my training in Greenwich in April it was time at last to be unleashed onto the river. Thursday 9 June was my first session with veteran FROGs and I have to say how welcoming and friendly I found the group which includes our very own Julia Mahon. They were kind to a newbie, taking me under their wings and showing me the ropes.
Our main task was to clean and then record any changes to a 7th century fish trap or Wattle, that was discovered on the foreshore near Fulham Palace last year (Do read Julia's excellent blog post).
After introductions we waited to head down to the foreshore. And we waited. And we waited some more. First of all its important to know the tide times. These are not always entirely accurate. The day before had seen torrential rain and the river was higher than we had expected. Much higher. To make matters worse there is a sewage outflow on the Putney side which releases effluent into the river at these times. Whoever said the life of the archaeologist was glamorous?
We used the free time to mudlark, named for the age old profession of men and women, and quite often children who would search the river foreshore for anything of value that could be salvaged. I managed a small haul of mainly Victorian pottery (Fulham was famous for its potteries) and some prehistoric flint.
A veteran FROG was kind enough to bring in some previous finds for me to see which included a 17th century clay pipe and a neolithic axe-head all found on the foreshore within metres of the palace.
After a wait of almost an hour we were finally able to get to the archaeology. I must say it was truly breathtaking to see something so old and hand made. I felt a real connection with the people who lived at Fulham, our ancestors, in what seems such a far off time. It was like a hand reaching across the centuries. We could see the trap was used to feed them and their families. The trap had been amazingly well preserved for over a thousand years by being trapped in the anaerobic environment of the river mud. We could also make out a line of peat that would have made up the ancient vegetation on the edge of the river.
We got to work measuring and recording what we could.
What I found shocking was how much the trap had eroded over the last year. It was literally crumbling in our hands. The foreshore is being eroded at an ever increasing rate, mostly due to increased river usage. I'll never look at the Thames Clippers in the same light. This small, but incredible link to our local history will soon be gone and I realised how vital it was that we should record its presence. It felt like we were documenting the very lives of the people who used it.
If you would like to be kept informed and even get involved with volunteer archaeology and learning events at Fulham Palace please do contact volunteer@fulhampalace.org .
An important note about River Etiquette and Hygiene.
It's important never to visit the foreshore alone. Always go with someone, preferably an insured and well trained group such as a qualified tour guide. Take a mobile phone. Also as we heard earlier although the river is now one of the cleanest in Europe, sewage is still regularly pumped into the river. There is a small risk of contracting Weil's disease from rat's urine. so as well as wellies, always wear gloves. Never eat or smoke on the foreshore and make sure you thoroughly wash your hands at the first opportunity. Never dig on the foreshore. Wherever you are remember someone owns the land, so be respectful. It is also important to register any significant finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
My personal advice would also be to wear sunscreen and a hat in hot weather, and take some plastic bags for any mudlarking finds you may find.
Steve Lee
