The Museum of London, tucked away under piles of concrete by a roundabout near the Barbican Centre, tells the story of the city from prehistoric times to the present day. The excellent Medieval Galleries shed light on the Dark Ages, between the departure of the Romans and the reign of Elizabeth I. During this turbulent time, London survived Viking attacks, lost half its population to the Black Death and had an alehouse for every 50 people in the city. Exhibits include everyday objects such as shoes, dice and coins, as well as photos of various plague cemeteries. There are skillful reconstructions of rooms from Roman houses, complete with original mosaics on the floor, plus a complete Temple of Mithras. For those who like to gaze into the eyes of their ancestors, there is a haunting facial reconstruction of a Briton who adopted the new Roman fashions and died around A.D. 50.