Archaeologists seize unique opportunity to discover ancient secrets under Olympic site

Humans have exploited east London ever since hungry Mesolithic fishermen ventured down to the banks of its marshy pools in search of food.

The Romans drove a fast road through the land, only for the rebellious English queen Boudica to exploit it to wreak her violent revenge on the invaders.

In the Middle Ages it was the turn of the Knights Templar. Their water mills established a thriving industrial zone, paving the way for some of the most important technological developments of the Victorian age.

Now, in advance of the arrival of the world's athletes for the London Olympics in 2012, the Lower Lea Valley will finally give up the secrets of its history as it becomes the largest archaeological site ever excavated in Britain. Stretching across an area larger than the neighbouring City of London, experts have begun work to uncover evidence of human occupation dating back to 6000BC. It is a once in a millenia opportunity for the archaeologists who must complete their work before the developers' bulldozers turn this decaying corner of the capital into Europe's largest construction site, complete with an 80,000 seat stadium, a 17,000-bed athlete's village, a velo park and an aquatic centre.