"You don't need to be a king to make history."

My name is Alessio Checconi. I am a geologist, palaeontologist and licensed Mudlark with a deep passion for archaeology and history.
 

Based in London, I spend my free time exploring the muddy foreshore of the River Thames during low tides, in search of ancient artefacts.

 

A prehistoric flint blade, a Roman hairpin, a medieval pilgrim badge or a child’s leather shoe. Simple objects become unlikely storytellers, revealing long forgotten anecdotes of Londoners past. 

Since I began finding thousands of artefacts that once belonged to ordinary people and researching their stories, I came to realise that history isn’t shaped solely by kings and emperors. It is also written by countless everyday lives, people just like us, who left so many quiet traces behind.

​

Follow my discoveries on social media, where I share finds and stories as London Madlark, or get in touch if you’re interested in collaborating.