The Most Beautiful & Significant Find of 2022 (or EVER actually!) - Mudlarking with Nicola White 

As an archaeologist up here in Scotland, I just want to congratulate you on dealing with that situation so well. Hopefully you passed on find site details in case there is a grave or graves that could be excavated. Well done both of you.

If someone handed me that dish out of context, I would have presumed it was just a modern saucer for a terracotta pot and placed it under one of my plants 😂

The intact Roman pieces were simply mind blowing! Hard to wrap your mind around the age, and such fine workmanship!

The history of the UK goes so far back and the richness of ancient artifacts that still can be found today is amazing

Was anyone else holding their breath as Nicola dug it out??? What a beautiful find! Congratulations!

It's a small miracle that the two vessels hadn't smashed into each other despite being so close.

In all my years as archaeologist never have I found such a item intact

Congratulations, Nicola! How fantastic for you to find not one, but TWO perfectly intact, whole Roman artifacts! That is simply amazing! I'm so happy for you!

I love Nicola's excitement over finding that gorgeous vessel. I'm so happy for her!

I'm a trained potter who hasn't had a studio in quite a while. As part of my journey I've also done some glass blowing and silver smithing, but ceramics always stays closest to my heart. So you can imagine how I enjoyed this! The fact that so many pottery finds have really informed us about our civilizations in the past is fascinating. The fact that these single fired wares have held up against time thanks to clay mud from which pottery is also made is humbling and amazing. The craftmanship and functionality of these old pieces is amazing. I was particularly impressed by the fine curvature and elegantly turned foot of the Samian plate. Smartly stamped on the serving side of it too by the maker, realizing of course that food is served already plated and dirty plates are never turned over at the table, so that's a real marketing strategy right there! I see these Samian plates often have a very deliberate little upward peak in the center. I'm SO curious as to why. Today that's usually a sign of a young amateur thrower (it's clearly thrown on a wheel btw) but in the case of these it's also clearly intentional as they are extremely well finished, which is a post throwing dicipline unto itself. On the bottom side it's also clear this choice is echoed, there's an upward identation. This is sometimes a choice in Asian teaware, especially chawan for teaceremonies as the way these are performed is in an exact ritual of gestures and administration by women with small hands. It facilitates the one handed holding of the dish, a finger or two in that center stabilizing the grip, the other hand turns the chalice thrice from the opposing side of yhe body of the vessel. Theorizing using this information, tgis detail may in fact support the idea that this type of small plate is actually for ceremonial purposes, and not for dining. Anything wet put on such a plate would run out to the perimeter of it. The size also suggests it might be ment to be held in a single hand, and the small amphora in the other, being of perfect size, and for a one handed grip also given a very practical handle. Any liquid poured out of the amphora onto the plate would with the peaked bottom swirl in circles at the slightest gesture. Just like tea in Japan. It's just a thought, informed only by my pottery experience, but if burials involved these two pieces it's not far fetched to imagine they also played a part in the burial ceremony itself to symbolize the circle of life and death, the human vessels last breath, the oils or wine of sustenace given to send them off, or some form of last anointing happening. Anointing and blessing remains of the dead with oils and water is many thousands of years older than Christianity. Those two vessels together really are like a summary of all human existance. I find the shapes and dimensions, the careful curvature and finishings so human and moving. The words we use for pottery shapes echo the human vessel. We speak of necks and shoulders. The foot, the lip, sometimes ear is used for handles (in some languages). Ceramic pots since the dawn of humans have held the water of life, the wine, kept the dry goods dry, kept pickled and salted goods free of contaminations; they've been our pots for cooking in the fire, kept clean through fire, and the last resting place for our bones and ashes though time. It's just increbly remarkable that you can stumble on such a find at the riverside like this in our age, or on a walk on a hillside of any meditteranean island, if you have the eye to actually see it. I hope the museum does what they claim they will. I know in many countries there's simply not resources enough put aside to follow through on all public finds and they'd rather peoplr just left things alone and stopped poking about. Unfortunately. Because exactly like you say, it can be only a matter of weeks before it's all washed away and broken to sherds, any potential bones scattered, and the world would miss out on the opportunity to see and learn from these ancient objects of hand made beauty. Please keep an eye out on that specific site to see if your find is followed up on, the site protected. You are skilled in your method of retrieval, and that makes all the difference! If nobody acts on this site within reasonable time I'd go back if I were you. Letting things literally go to waste isn't reasonable. Any possible human remains from this far back are not generally treated with sanctity by archeologists, but retrieved are at least carefully carbon dated, sorted and put in a drawer somewhere. At best. If it's a roman burial site and not protected, visibly sealed off out of bounds or even examined closer, simply ignoring the site serves no purpose whatsoever. Whatver remains will be destroyed nonetheless as its now subject to the elements again. Thank you for sharing this whole process with us! I look forward to an update on this. I'd really love to get my hands on a few pounds of that protective shoreside clay and see if it would make good potting clay! It's not unlikely it's a match for the pottery you found there after a little old school processing! Marvelous! Congratulations! ❤️

I was so happy for Sean as he found that arrowhead. A work of neolithic art in itself, what a find!

Sunday morning coffee and mudlarking with Nicola!!! What could be better? 🥰

I nearly had a heart attack when you found the first pot! The plate added a ton of icing-just so sweet! Beyond a bucket list day!

I got a little chuckle imagining someone from ancient times being told that thousands of years from now people would be so excited by a (disposable) jug! I imagine they would think that we have all lost our minds in the future. I imagine it to be like being told today that people would be so excited to find a red solo cup! 😆 The jug and plate are such amazing finds! Well done!

As some are consumed by the future, there are those of us fascinated by the past. This episode, in particular, has caused me to want to be in London for the Totally Thames Festival. I recently learned of other lost rivers in and around London and I am not certain a single month is enough time to explore. Of course, I cannot come so I will depend on your channel for highlights. And quite possibly you may produce a video on a lost river or two? Thank you, Nicola, for this labor! Yes, I am a proud American. But also proud of my English roots.

I was just heading for bed here in the USA when I saw you had a new post and thought I'll just watch a few minutes and catch the rest in the morning... well... couldn't possibly have turned that off! Just a wonderful adventure I can now dream about. Thank you for sharing your excitement and those extraordinary finds with your many fans. 🏺

David is an excellent spotter! You had better take him along more often.

Well, the amphora and plate were still exciting finds! I suspected they'd go to the museum, but you know they will be preserved. The European drought is supposed to bring rivers , including the Thames, down to lower levels than they have been since the 1600s. Who knows what may be found then. There is a drought in the south west causing Lake Meade to go dry and all the skeletons of people killed by the Mob in Las Vegas are all over the news. I have broken apart .303 rounds and the cordite in them looks like short lengths of uncooked spaghetti noodles. It is yellow too! That Roman denarius is awesome! I think you will see some more spectacular finds before the drought ends. 😊👍🇺🇸🇬🇧

A great find David, good spotting. It must have been such a privilege for you Nicola to be able to dig it out. Great show

Congratulations on your fabulous finds. You gave them the utmost respect. What a day. David is a lucky charm. We'll done both of you.

I was holding my breath. You have reach legendary level in mudlark history.

Can’t imagine what you must have felt when you found one Roman pot, but then to find 2 Roman finds the Roman gods really were with you both that day #mudlarked

Thank you for showing your surroundings. So special.❤We were blessed by watching your amazing discovery.😮😮

This is the very reason I watch these videos. I could get lost for days in the history you bring back to life. Outstanding finds that it'll be saved forever thanks to your skills and professionalism

Congratulations, Nicola! When you held up that pot I was ready to cry!

Magnificent finds. The Roman artifacts in perfect condition are breathtaking. Thank you so much for this video.

Your videos are wonderful! I wish I could get muddy along with you, but sorry to say I must live vicariously through your filming instead! So thank you for bringing me along visually on your larking expeditions! I've always been interested in British archeology and will never have the chance to take part. I'm so grateful for all of you who do this and share your experiences with us!! Always informative with so much eye candy!! Great finds in this one!

Nicola...just may I say Wow!!...as a Land Surveyor in America I've stumbled upon arrow heads...fossilized sharks teeth and old bottles...to name a few..to think that you find Roman Artifacts is just mind boggling to me ...and it makes me want to journey to England and look!..your passion and excitement is palpable!!...I grew up in the Bahamas when it was a British Colony and has British Teachers!...I'd just love to do this!! Thank you for what you do!!

Incredible history preserved! Thank you for doing what you do Nicole and for taking us along on the hunt!

Absolutely brilliant, amazing pieces of history. I love watching all your finds, but these are the top of the list. Keep searching, can’t wait to see what you find next. May you be blessed.

2000 years old. Haha! I live in western Canada, where anything from before 1900 is a museum piece. Can't imagine just picking up a bunch of pieces of perfect Roman stuff on the beach, taking it to a museum and going about my day. Bless. XD

Fan-bloody-tastic episode. I lived in London 1975 - 78. Spent a lot of time walking the Thames banks. If only I knew about the contents of the mud then! Yes we in Oz have some of the best beaches in the world but one can spend a life time of beach combing and find only plastic waste from passing ships. Keep up the good work.

I thought of you and your fabulous finds the other day when I was researching an ancestor who tragically died on the 3rd Sept 1878 when the pleasure steamer SS Princess Alice collided with the Bywell Castle coal ship on the Thames. Around 650 men, women and children lost their lives. Absolutely dreadful and there are no words really. On reading newspaper reports at the time many many personal posessions were never recovered. My own ancestor had a silver cup with him. I would hope that many little treasures and personal items have now been recovered by lovely mudlarkers. So much history in the Thames.

Oh my giddy Aunt!! What absolutely extraordinary finds! So exciting, this whole episode made me smile from ear to ear. Well done and thank you Nicola for taking us along xx Teresa 🇦🇺❤

How very fortunate for us all that you were the finder. I’m always so very impressed with the care you take and your ethics. Thank you for sharing these precious finds with us all and making sure they will be preserved for posterity. Please do keep us updated should you receive any updates on excavation of the site.

OMG Nicola! Amazingly fantastic finds.... I watch Time Team and I was wondering if those Roman pots were part of a burial offering, it looks like most of the grave has been washed away and with it the occupant. The substance in the dish may be some sort of offering that would be amazing wouldn't it! ❤️

Congrats on your Roman finds. This is definitely amazing and a find of a lifetime!

Always amazed how the earth protects these items. Fishy custard, hmm, think I’ll give that one a miss! The Roman finds, wow, stunning, the Samian plate is perfect, so excited for you both

Did anyone else gasp/shout when she lifted the amphora up by its handle alone at 16:32? Beautiful finds, for sure. Must have been amazing to liberate them from their entombment.

Your excitement was so deep and sincere that sharing it brought me, much to my surprise, to the edge of tears. You and David created a very real connection of shared humanity with the maker, your viewers and the gracious interests of your partnership in this very special discovery. Thank you for making history so meaningful and alive.

Amazing that these finds still turn up and that you were able to save them. It will be interesting to know if the Archaeologist find out more about the area they were found.

What an amazing day! I know you cannot lark at that area until the antiquities people finish investigating, but I hope that they allow you to come and observe. I think we all would love to see that and it would make an amazing video!

I'm not sure if I've seen a bigger smile on your face, I couldn't be happier for you! It even gave me chills watching you carefully extract the two incredible finds. Serious museum quality finds, congratulations!!!💖😄👍🤗🥰I would let a flock of geese poo on me if it brought me that kind of luck, hopefully David also had some of that good luck.

This for you can only be described as a red letter day - a day you will struggle to surpass, and undoubtable will never forget. Utterly utterly fantastically brilliantly fabulous - and I don't think there is anyone else in the World that deserves this more than you - congratulations!

Absolutely spectacular Roman finds! How exciting! Looking forward to hearing from the museum on more particulars! Congratulations!💖👍🏻

Congratulations Nicola and David! Amazing history saved just in time! Another excellent save was the glass bead. Wonderful video, I'm so happy for you and David...what a stellar day!

As a New Zealander, I'm soooo envious of you, Nicola! Everywhere you look in the UK. there seems to be "Roman this" or "Roman that". So cool! If you mudlark in NZ, the most you'll probably find is a beer bottle from the 1970s!

Wow. Spectacular finds this time Nicola, can’t wait to hear further news from the FLO.

Congratulations on finding such historical finds. So cool. I like the way you incorporate the wildlife into your videos.

My word, I wonder if the Roman las or chap who tossed that into the river had any idea 2000 years later a lovely lady of the 21st century would be pulling it out for us modern day people to see? How extraordinary! Cheers

Aloha from Hawaii, David Hume from London, now living in a tropical paradise on the Big Island. I have watched a lot of your videos, love em, thank you so much. This episode was epic. I used to work in central London and would sometimes go down to the 'mud' on my lunch breaks. I never found anything as epic as you have but I loved the feeling there, like walking in time. Thanks again Nicola.

I got strong Time Team vibes from this episode! Expected Tony Robinson to pop info view at any moment when you excevated that Roman pot. 😂 Absolute bonkers that both the pot and the plate are perfectly intact after so much time 😳.

Most amazing episode that I can remember. It was like watching Time Team with Nicola as guest star!

You know what? When you first found the pottery I thought gravesite! I don't know why, it just was a feeling, thought....💥🙌❇❇

That is absolutely incredible! I mean to find the Roman pot fully in tact but also a perfect plate right with it! I am a arrowhead hunter, metal detector and general relic hunter. I have great finds over 40 years but my God! A full perfect Roman pot and plate! I'm floored!

They were in such perfect condition, to be able to learn so much about them, with the contents they contain. To learn the age and name of the maker was amazing. The story to come will be awesome. Great vid. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hi, Nicola. Susan from Shelburne here. I was so excited to watch today's video!! I kept stopping it to make my husband watch! I can just imagine how thrilled you were as each item was gradually revealed. I've always thought it would be wonderful to have the ability to touch an item and know who the last owner was (or maybe, on second thought, not always a good thing!). Still, you can imagine the grieving widow placing the items by her husband. Anyway, I'm thrilled for you, and enjoyed it vicariously!

Nicola, you deserve to find the pot. All the hours you’ve put in - your 10,000 which makes you an expert- you really do deserve to find something so precious and interesting. I’m so happy for you and David. All of a sudden I was terribly worried how you were going to get them home. I was thinking about them. They look like the remains of a Roman picnic. A bottle of wine and a dish of nibbles. They left them behind as rubbish, worthless. But in what other circumstances can you say ” I must get poo’d on more often” and everyone nods in agreement? Fantastic video☺️🌸☺️

The soil around the the pot and dish is distinct from the surrounding soil. I can't help Hut wonder if they're grave goods. I'm gobsmacked! What an incredible find!

Totally amazed and great full to see your rare precious finds and looking forward to learning more about them!

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Those Roman artifacts are definitely the find of a lifetime! Well done! Please do keep us updated on further information about them as you receive it. Greetings and hugs, best wishes from Oregon.

Wow! Just wow! I think we all shared your excitement at uncovering those two Roman pieces! So glad you shared it!

I can't think of anyone more deserving to have made these discoveries. Well done Nicola❣ David is right, that Samian plate looks as if it were made yesterday.

I just find it amazing that you can be strolling along and find something over 2000 years old. Congratulations on your finds, and I hope the finds add to our understanding of ancient lives. What a wonderful mud lark!

Just so amazing. Can’t imagine how it felt finding them!

Nicola thank you so much for all your interest especially your Roman potxxxxxxxx

Hi Nicola, I am so saddened by the passing of your Queen. Many of us here in the U. S. loved her too. Take care, from the U. S. A.

Absolutely incredible Nicola, thoroughly deserved and well earned 😀

*Nicola WOW, such amazing historic preserved finds in one day. Thank you for uncovering them in one piece too. If they go to a museum, will they have both, you & David's names attached to each piece for the world to see when they visit said Museum??? But if they do not go into a Museum, do you get them back??.*

Nicola, I love your videos as well as your passion for history! I mudlark in Oklahoma finding some cool stuff. However, no comparison here. You truly save history! Fantastic job to the both of you! Congratulations!

Awesome find of the Roman pot & plate Nicola !!! I'm so happy 😊 for you !!! The pipes were nice & bottles. I really like the Cod bottle with the marble in it. I also have a cod bottle with a marble in it but mine doesn't have no words on it or a mark. I absolutely love it !!! ❤️🙂

Absolutely awesome finds on this hunt. Truly the finds of a life time.

Miraculous finds! It was stunning when you said the museum person said they are probably part of a burial, on top of being Roaman and Samian and intact, and gorgeous. Kudos to you and David!!!

I can't even imagine what it must feels like to touch something so old and cool. That pot is unbelievable.

😁👋👍👍👏👏💕🙏🏻 Excellent finds David and Nicole. Living in Northern Lower Michigan. We don't have the extreme history as you have. So I was blown away one spring day. As the earth pushed her treasures up to the surface. After the long freeze of winter and the earth thawed. My son found an ancient Roman coin. It was under the canopy of a very large maple tree. About 20' from our driveway. There was only one previous owner. The family who built the house and farmed the land. Of this 120+ years old farm house. Which is a baby compared to Great Britain. And the family has no idea how it came to be on the property.

Wow what a day, museum quality finds, glass beads, complete cod bottles, break out the champagne. So very happy for you.

Congrats, Nicola, on your Roman finds. I shared this video with my daughter who is a ceramic artist and she was so amazed!

Congratulations Nicola on such a significant and exciting find. What I find even more exciting than the makers mark, is the ancient contents of the bowl. It may have been their last meal, preserved in time. WOW!!!

Hello Nicola, I am completely in awe of your experience. I am so glad you found those and were able to safely excavate and take them to the museum people. I could see the excitement, happiness, and awe on your face. I also hope that is not a burial ground so you can go back hunting more in that area and get them into museums, I am glad you have the integrity to report all of your ancient finds. Your friend looked like he was having a great time as well. You are a wonderful representative of the UK. Every time I watch a video of yours, I want to have the good health to visit the islands and go mudlarking. I live in the states, Washington state to be precise, so I can find lots of fossils, but most dumps are more current than yours, and we definitely don't have all of the Roman shards. Please stay safe out there on the mud flats and in the mountains. Anastasia

Congratulations, Nicola! What truly amazing finds. I imagine that you will be on cloud 9 for days after finding these pottery pieces.

Well done and congratulations on such an historical find. I’m literally glued to the screen every week. 👍🥂🍾

Top 'larking Nicola! the bead was exciting enough but also the 2 ceramics....so satisfying. Great day's work

It's totally awesome. Congratulations, Nicola, both Museum pieces. London will be extremely excited with both your finds. ❤❤❤

Just amazing finds. I know native Americans put food with their dead so they wouldn't go hungry on their journey. I'm wondering if Roman's did the same thing. How fortunate you and David were to be able to hold such history in your hands. Congratulations!!!

Congratulations! I could see you almost exploding with excitement when you found that pot, then double joy with finding that Samian plate/dish. Well done, you deserve good finds and you always respect the history if them too. Thank you so much for sharing this video 💕🇦🇺

Spectacular!! More in the wall?? Possible cache?? Washing out??....🔨❇❇🌞

Wow what an exciting lark!! The mud gods favoured you that day. Congratulations!!

Oh my goodness that just made my day, it was so exciting! To find them both intact too! As David said, that samian plate looked as if it had been just made! Absolutely amazing, my favourite episode so far!

I’m living vicariously through you and your adventures, so grateful I’ve found your videos

Oh wow, that Roman pot & plate are so spectacular! If I were in your wellies, I would be sobbing with delight 😍💕💕💕

Hi Nicola am so made up I came across you on you tube, your mudlarking videos are so so amazing and informative and I just can't get enough of them, and you are such an amazing important person aswell as all the other mudlarkers a BIG THANKS TO YOU NICOLA,.I deffo will donate

Amazing, Nichola, what an extraordinary day. Those are the finds you dream of. So exciting, I was on the edge of my seat and cheered and clapped when it came out whole, and the Samian plate looked almost new. To think we can find our information on tradesmen from that era, totally remarkable. History makers on all levels. Thank you Nichola, Sundays aren't the same without you and your historical finds and the snippets of natural history you share each week x mudlark extraordinaire x

Wow! Definitely finds of a lifetime. Congrats Nicola and David. All your many thousands of hours of mud combing lead to this moment. Xx

I got tears in my eyes with all your excitement finding the Roman pot. So happy for you.

Congratulations on the Grand Slam as we would say in fishing; a triple header of 3 Amazing Roman artefacts. Interested to hear any follow up from your Finds Officer. Well done! I could feel your excitement!!

My goodness, a new Time Team episode! Could your bucket list have ever imagined?

What amazing finds! I cannot imagine holding a Roman plate in my hand. Thank you for sharing your finds with us!

Congratulations David, who spotted the Roman vessel first! Well spotted!

What a fabulous day. I hope those 2 pieces get to remain yours. I could just see them and other really lovely pieces in a gorgeous cabinet in pride of place, say in your lounge room. Good work and great to see how carefully you took them out of the mud. Also, fabulous cod bottle. I love your pieces, what history you've found. Just imagine those Roman days!!! Cheers Nicola, Janice in Australia.

Congratulations Nicola in your amazing find! I wonder if the mortarium piece and glass bead was part of the grave that had already washed out. I can’t wait to hear about what the archeologists find at the site.