Image Credit: Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority Ltd

Rare Pre Stonehenge Artifacts Unearthed Beneath Britain Parliament

Archaeologists working beneath the Palace of Westminster have uncovered an extraordinary sequence of artifacts — some dating back more than 6,000 years, long before Stonehenge was built. The discoveries were announced on Nov. 19 by the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, following a three-year investigation ahead of major restoration works.
Among the earliest finds were 60 Mesolithic flint fragments, likely produced around 4300 BC during toolmaking activities on what was once Thorney Island, a sandy rise near the River Thames. According to officials, the flints were found in undisturbed deposits and provide a rare glimpse of early hunter-gatherer life in what is now central London. Archaeology lead Diane Abrams described the discovery of prehistoric remains in situ as “incredibly rare.”
The excavations also revealed a rich sequence of later artifacts: medieval leather boot soles, 19th-century decorated clay tobacco pipes, a large beer jug inscribed “George Painter,” and a fragment of a Roman altar that had been reused centuries later. Another highlight was a heart-shaped medieval lead badge, part of a broad set of finds illustrating daily life across centuries.
One of the most significant discoveries was the remains of Lesser Hall, a medieval building dating to 1167. Once a royal dining space, it later housed key English institutions including the Court of Chancery, the Court of Requests, and at times the House of Commons and House of Lords. Its stone walls and foundations survived both the 1834 fire and a World War II bombing.
The structure was carefully recorded, modeled in 3D, and reburied for preservation. Abrams noted that the findings reveal “a remarkable timeline of human activity” beneath the modern Palace and will help guide the design and planning of Parliament’s future restoration.

Published on: 30-11-2025

Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie

Source: Fox News