Thames Discovery Programme

The Thames Discovery Programme is a <a href="/facts/Community_archaeology/GfTuBWKJ">community archaeology</a> project, focusing on the archaeology of the River <a href="/facts/Thames/XnQWN52L">Thames</a> on the <a href="/facts/Tideway/cuyT5jsW">Tideway</a>. The Thames Discovery Programme (TDP) was launched in October 2008 and until September 2011, the project was supported by the <a href="/facts/National_Lottery_(United_Kingdom)/93LILUNC">National Lottery</a> and a grant from the <a href="/facts/Heritage_Lottery_Fund/6X0IYPCB">Heritage Lottery Fund</a>. The project is designed to communicate an understanding and informed enjoyment of the historic Thames to the widest possible audience, and to train and support members of the public (the Foreshore Recording and Observation Group or FROG) to monitor and record the <a href="/facts/Archaeology/K3Q5P38R">archaeology</a> of the foreshore during the lifetime of the project, and into the future.
The project builds on initiatives pioneered by the Museum of London's Thames Archaeological Survey that took place from 1993 to 1999, the work of commercial archaeological units, such as <a href="/facts/Museum_of_London_Archaeology_Service/UKUEvyEh">Museum of London Archaeology</a> and the Thames Explorer Trust's innovative education projects. Over three years, archaeologists from the programme surveyed 20 archaeological sites along the tidal Thames in the Greater London area, supported by the work of the Foreshore Recording and Observation Group or FROG, who monitor the surveyed sites for changes, as the daily tides scour away the remaining archaeological features. The FROG is made up of volunteer members of the public, who are trained in foreshore recording techniques, the history and archaeology of the River Thames, health and safety and participation in digital media by the TDP team.
The TDP currently has a small staff team and is hosted by <a href="/facts/Museum_of_London_Archaeology_Service/UKUEvyEh">Museum of London Archaeology</a>. As at the start of 2019 this staff consists of four professional archaeologists. There are estimated to be around 150 active FROG volunteers. Partners and supporters include the Thames Explorer Trust, the <a href="/facts/Museum_of_London/xMLueky9">Museum of London</a>, the <a href="/facts/Port_of_London_Authority/4sgFbxl9">Port of London Authority</a>, <a href="/facts/English_Heritage/rDKouWmj">English Heritage</a>, and the <a href="/facts/University_College_London/7dmHhCf5">University College London</a> <a href="/facts/UCL_Institute_of_Archaeology/q6JxQcAg">Institute of Archaeology</a>.

Thames Discovery Programme open-in-new

Thames Discovery Programme