Archaeological and cultural heritage investigations on the site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The creation of the Olympic Park prompted a comprehensive programme of archaeological excavation, building recording and photographic survey. The work was undertaken in 5 stages (1 - DBAs, WSIs and Method Statements; 2 - Field evaluation; 3a - archaeological mitigation, assessment and reporting; 3b geoarchaeological/environmental assessment; 4 - Site wide integrated post-excavation assessment and updated project design; 5 - Analysis/dissemination; research archive preparation and deposition. The Olympic Park forms part of a landscape rich in archaeological and cultural heritage potential, and the investigations offered an opportunity to provide some context for earlier finds from the area. A series of broad research questions were outlined in the Environmental Statement based on priorities established in Museum of London's research framework (Museum of London 2002, 14-7). These concerned the presence of: palaeoenvironmental evidence for topographic and climate change preserved in the Lea Valley's alluvial deposits; in situ remains of prehistoric and later date, preserved within peat of alluvial deposits; remains of Roman roads, and evidence of Romano-British, settlement and land-use patterns, and burials; Saxon structures associated with the River Lea and its tributaries, and evidence for Saxon land-use, water management and milling; medieval features associated with the road along the Eastway; post-medieval land-use; and The 18th-20th century infrastructure features. The data set contains full specialist reports on the following categories: Post-Roman pottery, Glass, Clay tobacco pipes, Metalwork, Worked wood, Palaeoenvironmental remains A trench concordance has also been provided to facilitate use of the primary archive held by the London Archaeological Archive and Resource Centre.