Discover 5000 years of history at the Olympic Park

Archaeologists dug over 120 trenches and sunk 4000 boreholes at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ahead of London 2012. This vast amount of archaeological research is one of the most exciting aspects of Games’ legacy.

International Quarter London are teaming up with community archaeologists from MOLA on a pop-up exhibition offering locals and visitors to the Olympic Park an opportunity to learn about the artefacts found during these excavations. The Time Truck display explores some of the oldest objects found on the site, including a beautiful flint axe made around 5000 years ago on the banks of the River Lea, as well as discoveries revealing more about industrial activity at Temple Mills and the Clarnico sweet factory in Hackney Wick.

The Time Truck team is hosting object handling sessions of artefacts like those found across the site, giving visitors a chance to get hands-on with archaeology.

Finally, a free walking tour of artists’ Ackroyd & Harvey’s ‘History Trees’ installation is taking place at 11am and 1.30pm. This fascinating artwork consists of 10 trees planted at each entrance of the Park. Each tree is hung with a huge metal ring, inscribed on the interior with a list of artefacts or historical structures found nearby, alongside plant, animal, birds and insect species found on the ecological survey.