London Before London is a new permanent exhibition at the London Museum that explores the story of the Thames Valley and the people who lived here from 450,000 BCE to the founding of Londinium in 50 CE.
     Beginning with a time when London was nothing but tundra, and the local population would fit on a double decker bus, the exhibition explores the relationship between human communities and their surroundings. In the centre of the gallery, a spectacular 'River Wall' features over 300 objects dredged from The river Thames' depths - many of them bronze and iron swords laid there to please the gods of the water.
     The gallery also contains the remains of one of the oldest people to have been found in the London region. The skeleton is between 5640 and 5100 years old and is displayed alongside a facial reconstruction. The entire exhibited collection is online to browse, search and do tours through, and you can also play games, see the layout of the gallery and more on the extensive London Before London exhibition website.
     Contact: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN (England); tel: 020 7001 9844 - email: info@museumoflondon.org.uk

Source: Museum of London (May 2010)