Oak Island Treasure - the world's greatest treasure hunt - Oak Island Treasure

In celebration of National Archaeology Week, The Museum in Docklands is inviting people to indulge in a spot of mudlarking, a centuries-old activity that involves scouring beaches and riverbanks for artefacts.

On 22 July, participants will be able to join a search and take their finds back to the West India Quay museum to be examined.

The Museum of London and the Museum in Docklands exhibit items that have been discovered by mudlarkers, who usually have to apply for a special licence to search the foreshore.

The Archaeological archive manager Roy Stephenson explains how the activity of mudlarking was once a very important money-earner for poor Londoners.

"It is a longstanding tradition that stems from Victorian times, when the only way some people could make any money was to pick up valuables from the shores during low tide.

"It would have been mostly kids who did it and they picked up items such as bits of coal that had fallen from ships."

Wannabe treasure hunters can sign up for sessions that will take place from 10.15am-12.15pm or from 11.45am-1.45pm.

Any finds will be recorded and could be taken home or acquired by the museum, the museum said.

The mudlarking sessions cost £7.50 each and advance booking is required.

Mudlarkers usually come across an array of of old boots and crisp wrappers but there's always a real chance you could stumble on something valuable.

Mr Stephenson said: "The majority of really good stuff is medieval, but there are smatterings of Roman material and some artefacts from pre-history."

To sign up for the sessions, call 00 44 (0)870 4443855 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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