Uncovering London's Past: Mudlarking, Artifacts, and Community | Frank Mnich

Roman coins. Medieval mail armour. Human teeth pulled straight from the mud. On this episode of the Atomic Rambo Podcast, Dan sits down with  mudlarker Frank Mnich to dig into what the River Thames has been hiding for centuries - and why searching for it might be one of the best things you can do for your mind.Frank a  tree surgeon  and  full-time relic hunter, spends his days scanning the Thames foreshore for objects that haven't seen daylight in hundreds - sometimes thousands - of years. In this conversation, he walks Dan through the regulations that protect London's buried history, the community of mudlarkers who trade discoveries and stories, and the surprising mental health benefits of slowing down and searching the riverbed with your own hands.What you'll learn in this episode:How mudlarking evolved from Victorian scavenging into a permit-regulated modern hobbyWhere to find Stone Age tools, Roman coins, and medieval beads along the ThamesWhat the Treasure Act means for anyone who finds something significantThe strangest finds Frank has pulled from the mud - including musket flints, flea traps, and a Great Fire of London coinWhy this hobby became a lifeline for so many people during lockdownHow a shared obsession with history builds real communityTimestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Dan and Frank - the allure of mudlarking in London 00:40 – Historical origins of mudlarking in the Victorian era 02:10 – The extensive history of the Thames and its artifacts 05:05 – Getting permits through the Port of London Authority (PLA) 08:25 – Regulations around permitted zones and restrictions 13:42 – What happens when artifacts are found under the Treasure Act 16:08 – From Stone Age microliths to medieval objects 18:25 – A fragment of chainmail from the 1400s 30:05 – The Portable Antiquities Scheme and reporting finds 38:42 – Military relics: musket flints, bullets, and WWII remnants 54:53 – Human teeth and remains: a reminder of London's long history 61:43 – The Great Fire of London coin and its symbolic significance 69:14 – Mudlarking as a therapeutic hobby and mental wellbeing booster 73:00 – Encouragement for newcomers and respecting regulations 74:28 – Final thoughts on the significance of London's hidden historyKeep in Touch: Follow Dan in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.comTake the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/Connect with Frank: Instagram: @frankfinds