This week’s Rewind episode brings back one of our most memorable conversations—perfect for anyone who’s ever felt that jolt of wonder holding a fragment of the past. Anne Marie sits down with noted mudlark Jason Sandy—member of the Society of Thames Mudlarks, trustee of the Thames Museum Trust, and co-author of Thames Mudlarking: Searching for London’s Lost Treasures—to explore the River Thames as the longest open-air archaeological site in London.

Jason shares how a National Geographic segment sent him down to the foreshore, the thrill of finding a Roman bone hairpin now on display at the Museum of London, the camaraderie (and ethics) of the mudlarking community, and what it was like to metal-detect in the Tower of London’s moat. We also talk permits, recording finds, Totally Thames exhibitions, and why ordinary objects—buttons, pipe stems, combs—tell extraordinary stories.

Highlights

What makes London’s tidal Thames uniquely rich for finds
From Native American arrowheads to Roman London: Jason’s path to mudlarking
The Roman hairpin “holy grail” and donating to the Museum of London
How the Society of Thames Mudlarks works (and why there’s a waitlist)
Recording artifacts with the Portable Antiquities Scheme
Community spotlights: fellow mudlarks, favorite finds, and a life-changing Victoria Cross discovery
Behind the scenes: searching the Tower of London moat and what those regimental buttons revealed
The vision for a hands-on Thames Museum where visitors can learn on the foreshore

About Our Guest

Jason Sandy is an American-born architect/developer who moved to London in 2007 and discovered mudlarking in 2012. He’s a Society of Thames Mudlarks member, a Thames Museum Trust trustee, and co-author of Thames Mudlarking: Searching for London’s Lost Treasures. He lectures widely, appears on television, and shares finds on Instagram @jasonmudlark.

Links & Resources

Jason on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonmudlark
Thames Mudlarking: Searching for London’s Lost Treasures (book)
Thames Museum Trust: https://thamesmuseum.org
Portable Antiquities Scheme (UK): https://finds.org.uk
Museum of London: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk

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Check out Anne Marie's historical fiction and download free short story: A.M. Cannon website: www.amcannon.com

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Jason Sandy: How A Riverbed Became The Largest Open-Air Museum In London