Last week’s inaugural Ancient World in London Blogger’s Challenge called for opinions to be cast on the subject of which invaders had the most historical impact on Britain’s venerable capital, sparking shouts for all from rats to Roman traders, Scandinavian raiders and even a band of (admittedly made-up) Roman warrior-pigeons. I’ll today kick off round two – which again gives entrants the chance to win prizes both real and virtual – by posing a brand new question:
What’s the most important ancient site in London?
As a city, the Big Smoke has origins stretching back at least as far as the 1st century AD and the Roman era in Britain. As a place of settlement, its roots reach back for millennia beyond that. The ruins of these ancient inhabitants are scattered across the city. There are the remains of London’s first Roman amphitheatre, viewable in situ in the basement of Guildhall Art Gallery, and the Museum of London, with its fantastic array of artefacts and displays exploring all from the prehistoric period through to medieval times. As our London Explorers’ recent visit to the London Stone demonstrated (watch the video here), there are loads of sites with little-known ancient relevance in the city, all worthy of better acknowledgment. Maybe you’re particularly passionate about one such hidden gem in particular? If so, here’s your chance to give it a platform.
We’re asking all you veteran bloggers out there to write about the historical site that you think is the most important in London today, and we’re hoping that you’ll take up the challenge. Maybe Andie from Archaeoblog or Steve Harvey from Washing the Book will let us know which London site rocks their world. Or perhaps Colleen Morgan at Middle Savagery will have a favourite place this side of the pond? Anyone with an opinion is welcome to join in the challenge.
Just by entering, you will win 50 points, setting you well on your way to winning the grand prize of a holiday in Turkey. The best entry – picked by a panel of judges here at Heritage Key – will also receive five books of their choice from Thames & Hudson’s current catalogue.
Play by the Rules
This contest is open to everyone. All you need is an interest in history and somewhere online to post your entry. By entering this competition you agree to comply with the Ancient World in London Competition Rules, as well as the following rules, which are specific to this contest:
- Entries can consist of text, images, video or mixed media.
- All entries must be the contestant’s own work, and any supporting material (e.g. photos or music) must be used with the permission of the copyright owner.
- All entries should contain a link back to this page.
To submit your entry, simply copy and paste the URL of your blogpost, podcast or page as a comment below. The deadline for submission is midnight, GMT on 9th March 2010. The winner will be announced during the following week. The judges’ decision is, of course, final.
Part of the Ancient World in London Web Event
The Ancient World in London is Heritage Key’s groundbreaking three-month-long interactive online and offline event, introducing HD video, virtual worlds, competitions and live events. It is sponsored exclusively by Addison Lee, London’s largest minicab service. Last week’s theme was Invaders of London, this week it’s all about the capital’s most important ancient site. Log onto Heritage Key in two weeks’ time to check out challenge three!