Archaeologists Uncover 6,000-Year-Old Artifacts at Palace of Westminster

Archaeologists working on the restoration of the Palace of Westminster, London, have uncovered artifacts believed to be about 6,000 years old, revealing evidence of human activity dating to around 4300 BC. The discovery emerged during a three-year investigation commissioned by the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority.

Researchers found more than 60 struck flint flakes and a worked tool from the late Mesolithic or early Neolithic period. The items were buried in undisturbed sand deposits that once formed part of Thorney Island, a landscape thought to have supported prehistoric groups who hunted, fished, and foraged along the early Thames. The condition of the deposits suggests the material remained untouched for millennia.

Specialists say the flint pieces show clear signs of toolmaking and daily activity. The finds extend the known history of the area far beyond its medieval beginnings and point to one of the earliest phases of human presence on the Westminster site.

Officials emphasize the value of early discoveries

Lord McFall of Alcluith, the Lord Speaker, said the discovery adds a new chapter to Westminster’s extensive record. He described the site’s history as long and well documented, but said finds like these help deepen understanding of its earliest phases. He noted that archaeological work is an essential part of preparing for the restoration of the Victorian building.

Judith Cummins MP, Deputy Speaker of the Commons and chair of the Restoration and Renewal Programme Board, said the investigations highlight the scale of the project. She said teams are examining not only the palace itself but also the “thousands of years of history” beneath the modern structure.

Objects from the Roman, medieval, and Victorian periods were uncovered

The prehistoric finds appear alongside a wider range of artifacts tracing the site’s long and complex history. Archaeologists have recovered an 800-year-old medieval leather boot, several shoe fragments, and decorated 19th-century clay tobacco pipes.

POV: you’ve been hiding under the Palace of Westminster for hundreds of years.

See what we uncovered during recent surveys of the Palace as we prepare for its restoration. pic.twitter.com/IZU91aKzRR

— UK Parliament (@UKParliament) November 20, 2025

Researchers also identified a fragment of a Roman altar believed to be more than 2,000 years old. The altar had later been repurposed within another structure, showing how earlier materials were reused during periods of rebuilding.

Other discoveries include a medieval lead badge shaped like a flowering heart, a 19th-century beer jug inscribed “Geo Painter,” and a decorated Westminster floor tile that served as the model for the tiles installed during the Palace’s Victorian reconstruction.

Medieval hall revealed during 2025 excavation

The most significant discovery so far came in August 2025, when archaeologists uncovered remains of the medieval Lesser Hall, or White Hall, dating to 1167. The hall had been thought largely destroyed in the 1834 fire, but new evidence shows that sections of its stone walls survived and were used until the hall’s demolition in 1851.

The structure once served as a royal dining hall and later housed several courts, including the Court of Chancery and the Court of Requests. At different times, it also accommodated both Houses of Parliament.

Experts call for a careful approach to restoration

Dr. Simon Thurley CBE, chair of the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority Board, said the palace has been central to national history for a thousand years.

Archaeology on the R&R Programme is providing crucial data on the Palace of Westminster and informing its future restoration. This knowledge is essential in helping us ensure that the outstanding historical and architectural significance of the palace is maintained. pic.twitter.com/RoTB5b607f

— Houses of Parliament Restoration & Renewal (@Parliament_RR) November 20, 2025

He said excavation teams are working with caution because they are operating above layers of buried material that hold key clues to Westminster’s past. He called the archaeological phase the beginning of “a fascinating and important journey of discovery.”

David Brock, head of the Government Historic Estates Unit at Historic England, said the discoveries highlight the richness of the site and reflect the variety of human activity that unfolded there across centuries.

He said locating the Lesser Hall walls is especially important and may deepen understanding of surviving medieval buildings, particularly Westminster Hall. He added that the findings should guide a sensitive approach to future restoration plans, ensuring respect for the site’s long and layered history.