London Museum Receives More Than 14,000 Roman Artifacts Through Significant Historical Contribution

Title: Revealing History: London Museum to Present 14,000 Roman Artifacts in 2026

As the new London Museum prepares to open in 2026, guests will step back almost two thousand years into Roman London, courtesy of a remarkable donation from Bloomberg. In one of the most pivotal archaeological bequests in the city’s past, the global media firm is contributing over 14,000 Roman artifacts—discovered during the construction of its European headquarters—to the museum. This incredible collection comes along with a generous £20 million (about $26.1 million) contribution aimed at transforming London’s historic Smithfield Market into the museum’s new location.

The Discoveries Under Bloomberg Place

From 2012 to 2014, the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) undertook a groundbreaking excavation at the site of Bloomberg’s new headquarters near Bank Station. Historically noted as the site of a third-century CE temple dedicated to the Roman deity Mithras, the area exceeded all expectations with its discoveries.

Archaeologists uncovered what has been hailed as one of the most comprehensive and fruitful digs in London’s past. Among the findings was the United Kingdom’s earliest and most complete collection of Roman writing tablets, many of which are readable and provide intriguing insights into the everyday business and legal matters of Roman Londinium.

Additionally, thousands of artifacts were discovered that vividly illustrate life in the Roman community, including:

– 81,000 animal bone remains indicating diet and trade
– More than 73,000 pottery fragments shedding light on domestic and commercial activities
– 700 well-preserved Roman leather shoes belonging to both adults and children
– About 7,000 metal items, many of which are intricately designed
– Decorated pottery featuring fragments with detailed profile portraits and nature designs
– Carved sword pieces and various tools
– Roman wooden writing tablets and styluses

From Mithraeum to Museum: A Fresh Home for Ancient Heritage

While approximately 600 artifacts have been on display since 2017 at the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE on Walbrook, the upcoming relocation to the new London Museum will significantly enhance access to the collection. For the first time, visitors will encounter thousands of these remarkable Roman artifacts all in one venue—numerous pieces that have never been exhibited before.

The museum’s future site is the historic General Market building of Smithfield, a Victorian-era meat market. The location is being re-envisioned as a vibrant cultural hub that connects residents and tourists with the city’s rich and varied heritage. An exciting aspect will be the museum’s underground galleries—set at the actual Roman street level—providing visitors with a unique immersive experience of the ancient metropolis beneath contemporary London.

The Largest Archaeological Archive in the World

Already acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the custodian of the world’s largest archaeological archive, the London Museum will further enhance its collection through this Bloomberg donation. The combination of financial and cultural contributions is set to propel the museum’s evolution into a world-renowned destination for the study and appreciation of London’s history.

Sharon Ament, the director of the London Museum, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “The collection along with this generous donation constitutes an extraordinary gift that bridges the past with the future and will serve as a lasting legacy for London. Collaborating with organizations like Bloomberg empowers us to create significant change: not only in safeguarding the city’s heritage but in developing wonderful spaces and opportunities for today’s Londoners.”

Legacy and Knowledge

This vast collection provides scholars and the public with an exceptional glimpse into the lives of individuals—soldiers, traders, children, laborers—who roamed the streets of London nearly 2,000 years ago. From ordinary items to ceremonial pieces, each artifact weaves a connection through time, linking modern London to its ancient Roman heritage.

Upon its opening in 2026, the London Museum will function as not just a premier repository for the city’s history, but as a dynamic educational resource, allowing a new generation to delve into the richness of London’s cultural legacy in a space that reflects its complexity and importance.

To discover more:

– Visit the official London Museum website: https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/
– Follow the London Museum on Instagram and Facebook
– Visit the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE today

Additional reading for history buffs:
– Ancient Roman Sandals Uncovered in Germany
– Roman Road Discovered Buried Under an English Village Schoolyard
– $2.2 Million Worth of Stolen Ancient Artifacts Restored to Greece and Italy
– Mysterious Cache of 3,000 Roman Coins Found in Germany

With this historic donation and initiative, London reclaims its ancient narrative, layer by layer, artifact by artifact—right from its origins.