Prehistoric Flints Predate Stonehenge in London

An archaeological investigation beneath London's Palace of Westminster has revealed a remarkable timeline of human activity. The most ancient finds include 6,000-year-old flint tool fragments, predating Stonehenge and offering insights into prehistoric fishing and gathering communities that inhabited the area now known as Thorney Island.

Further discoveries include fragments of a 2,000-year-old Roman altar and 1,800-year-old frescoes, suggesting high-status Roman presence. Medieval relics, such as 800-year-old boot soles and the well-preserved remains of Lesser Hall, a 1167 royal building significant in parliamentary history, were also unearthed.

These findings, including 19th-century artifacts like tobacco pipes and a beer jug, will inform future restoration plans for Parliament. The preservation of Lesser Hall's stone walls and foundations, surviving fires and wartime bombing, is a testament to its historical importance and structural resilience.