London human remains collection

A skull discovered at Ebenezer Chapel London

A skull discovered at Ebenezer Chapel, London

Restricted access to the collection

As we prepare to relocate 28 million specimens to our new science facility at Thames Valley Science Park, we must stop some of our usual activities until further notice. We will no longer be able to approve loans, receive visitors or fulfil collection-based enquiries in the anthropology collection from 1 September 2025.

This does not affect any existing commitments, bookings or visits and enquiries from descendant communities or relating to requests for the return of human remains. These restrictions are temporary, and dates for when access to the collections will recommence will be shared as soon as they are available.

Our Digital Collections are openly accessible as always via our Data Portal, where over six million of our specimens have been digitised and released online, with more data being added every week.

The London human remains collections includes 740 individuals who lived in London over the last 5,000 years.

The remains in the collection, cared for in the museum, were excavated in the nineteeth and early twentieth centuries.

Museum scientists have uncovered fascinating insights into lives and deaths of the people that once lived in the capital, from the Romans to the Victorians.

Interactive map

Find out where in London individuals remains were found, what era they lived in and what we know about their lives from their bones.

Funding

The Human Remains Digitisation Project was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust.

Any questions?

Please get in touch if you would like to use any specimens for research.

Cannon Street

Human remains of Roman individuals unearthed in Cannon Street in 1861.

Ebenezer chapel (1785-1850)

In 1913, a skull was found under post-medieval building foundations at the site of Ebenezer Chapel (London E1). 

London wall

Human remains of Roman individuals uncovered in 1866 by Lieutenant Colonel Augustus H Lane-Fox.

Ludgate Hill (1500-1800)

Collection represents a pathological collection of post-medieval remains from a number of individuals that were uncovered from Ludgate Hill.

Ripple Road, Barking

In 1932, during housing developments, a Roman stone coffin was found at Ripple Road in Barking. 

St Bride's (1650-1700)

A collection of post-medieval crania uncovered from a graveyard used by St Bride's Church, Fleet Street.

St George the Martyr (1122-1850)

The churchyard of St George-the-Martyr was in use for more than six centuries throughout the post-medieval period.

The Green Ground (1638-1850)

A post-medieval graveyard on Portugal Street used by the Parish of St Clement Danes (western central London) from 1638.

Prehistoric

The remains in this collection are believed to mainly date from the Bronze Age, though some may even date back to the Neolithic period.

Iron Age and Roman sites

These Iron Age and Romano-British remains were recovered from multiple sites across London over the last 170 years.

Medieval sites (410-1550)

The cranial remains of eight individuals, probably dating to the medieval period, recovered from various locations in London.

Post-medieval (1550-1900)

Many originate from post-medieval burial grounds that were closed as a result of overcrowding.

Sites of unknown dates

Human remains found at various locations throughout London, predominantly during building works.

Collections

A history of burial in London

How has London buried its dead over the past 5,000 years?

Collections

Skeletons reveal their secrets

Bone detectives at the Museum are uncovering the secrets of life and death in London over 5,000 years.

Analysing the bones: what can a skeleton tell you?

How scrutinising a person's bones and teeth can disclose who they were, how they lived and even how they died.

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