mudlarking on the Thames

(a screengrab from this blog post)

When I was younger, one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up was an Archaeologist.

In fact I think I still want to be an archaeologist. Some of my favourite TV programs are ones that visit old sites in search of snippets of history or ones that search for the ancestors of people today. I'm fascinated by the history of who we were and how we lived. And I suspect I'm also excited by the thrill of finding the unknown.

One of the attractions of Wharburton (just a hop, skip and jump from where we once lived) was the story that you could find bits of metal type along the river bank, left there when the printing factory flooded many years ago. We never did explore the river banks on our many trips out there, but maybe we will next time.

So when I spied this post on the etsy site this morning, I just had to read it and follow the links. Mudlarking – now that sounds right up my alley. The only problem is, if I found anything I'd be VERY tempted to keep it for myself, not hand it over to the museum!

I've just realised that my wanting to be an Archeologist and my slightly obsessive need to collect vintage stuff are linked! 

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OMG: there is an etsy shop selling stuff found in the Thames mud!

AND:  And there is a TV show on the Mud Men.