Prehistoric London

The Capital Before the Romans

Simon Webb

• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781036104009
• Edition: 0
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

Despite the vast amount of work written and published about London, there has never before been a full-length book covering the history of that part of the Thames Valley before the arrival of the Romans. Beginning in the Cretaceous Era, which ended 66 million years ago, Prehistoric London examines the geology of this part of Britain and explains why this particular section of the Thames proved to be the ideal location for a city. It describes, too, the animals and people who were attracted to the area by the conditions there. From the time of the dinosaurs, through to the Iron Age and the Roman invasion in 43 AD, this is a comprehensive account of London before London. It is the story of the land, and those who dwelt there, before anybody had thought of founding a city on the banks of the Thames. In addition to being a history book, though, Prehistoric London is also a lively guidebook which explains how to explore modern London and find such things as Iron Age hillforts and a site where anybody can dig sharks' teeth from the sand of a 55-million-year-old seabed. This book will reveal the backstory of London and show readers what was happening in the capital long before a single stone was laid of the city we know today.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of Plates
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The Geology of London
• Chapter 2 The First Londoners
• Chapter 3 Hunters of the Mesolithic
• Chapter 4 The First Farmers and the Ritual Landscape of London
• Chapter 5 The Bronze Age
• Chapter 6 A New Kind of Metal
• Chapter 7 Celtic London
• Chapter 8 The Roman Conquest
• Endword
• Appendix: Prehistoric Sites which can be Visited in London
• Bibliography
• Plates