27 Mar 2008
An archaeological programme has been launched to give residents living around the Olympic Park site a better understanding of their past.
Part of a skeleton found on the Olympic Park
The year-long ‘discover’ community and schools project for the five Host Boroughs was launched at the Museum of London. The programme includes school visits, a community dig and roadshows giving local people an insight into the history of the Olympic Park site.
Archaeological finds from the Olympic Park site were displayed at the launch, including one of four prehistoric skeletons found buried in graves on the site of the Aquatics Centre. The skeletons are believed to be over 3,000 years old.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: ’This is yet another example of how hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games means much more than just a fortnight of sport – rather a source of education, interest and community participation before, during and after the Games.’
Other finds from the Park include a Roman Coin, Roman river walls, buildings to house Second World War guns and a complete 19th century boat that may have been used for hunting wild fowl on the river Lea.
Investigations are now complete on the five main venue sites and over 80 per cent of trenches elsewhere on the Park have been dug.
Read the full media release. 
