"Crossrail is undertaking the biggest archaeology project in the UK," said Jay Carver, Crossrail’s lead archaeologist. "Over the past few years we have worked in a range of challenging and constrained sites including busy London streets and abandoned wharves along the Thames."

The Crossrail archaeology programme began in 2009 with archaeologists beginning their investigations at Tottenham Court Road, where they excavated the former Crosse & Blackwell factory site.

Nearly 100 key discoveries from 10 sites will be on display this weekend at a public exhibition at antique centre Grays Antiques, London.