A stunning ancient discovery beneath Britain’s Houses of Parliament has prompted new questions about how much of the nation’s history remains buried just steps from its political center. Archaeologists uncovered relics dating back thousands of years, including Mesolithic flint chips that “likely” date to around 4300 BC — well before Stonehenge’s construction.
The Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority confirmed investigators found 60 flint fragments “in undisturbed sand deposits that once formed part of Thorney Island,” an area early communities used to “fish, hunt and gather food.” Diane Abrams, the project’s archaeology lead, called the find “incredibly rare” and said she was “surprised to discover direct evidence of flint tool-making dating back to around 6,000 years ago.”
Teams also uncovered medieval boot and shoe soles, Roman-era remnants, 19th-century artifacts, and the remains of Lesser Hall, a medieval building dating to 1167. Officials said the hall saw “key moments in Parliamentary history,” having housed the Court of Chancery, Court of Requests, and even both chambers of Parliament at various times. Excavators found its stone wall and foundation “remarkably preserved” through the Great Fire of 1834 and a World War II bomb strike.
Abrams described the hall as one of the “most exciting and unexpected” finds and noted that all pre-1834 structures were carefully recorded before being reburied.
Officials said the ancient discovery provides a rare window into continuous human activity on the site and will help guide future restoration. “These rare finds offer a glimpse into early human life in what is now central London,” the authority stated.
