Portable Antiquities Scheme

http://www.finds.org.uk/

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary recording scheme for archaeological objects found by members of the public. Every year many thousands of objects are discovered, many of these by metal detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work. Such discoveries offer an important source for understanding our past. For example, a single object may, when added to others found in the same location and recorded on the Historic Environment Record (formerly the Sites & Monuments Record), indicate an area of habitation or industry.

Worcestershire County Museum is a receiving museum for information on such finds and the Curator of Archaeological Collections, David Kendrick, acts as a Scheme Manager for the Finds Liaison Officer in Worcestershire.

Phil Harriman, an experienced metal detectorist and a volunteer at Worcestershire County Museum. Phil was the finder of the Chaddesley Corbett Roman Coin Hoard - over 400 coins from the end of the 3rd century AD. He is pictured here with the coins (and his metal detector!)

Phil Harriman (picture courtesy of Kidderminster Shuttle)

The Finds Liaison Officer, Angie Bolton, visits Worcestershire County Museum to view objects and advise finders.Please telephone Angie on 01905-721130 or e-mail abolton@cityofworcester.gov.uk to arrange an appointment.

Angie Bolton, Finds Liaison Officer for Worcestershire and Warwickshire (Picture courtesy of Warwickshire County Museum)

All finders of gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same finds, over 300 years old, have a legal obligation to report such items under the Treasure Act 1996. Now prehistoric base-metal assemblages found after 1st January 2003 also qualify as Treasure.

What is the definition of Treasure?

Coins

• Two or more gold and/or silver coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found. If they are bronze coins there must be at least 10 of them.

Objects

• All prehistoric base-metal objects from the same find (two or more).
• All finds (one or more) at least 300 years old and containing 10% or more gold or silver.
• Associated finds: any object, whatever it is made of, found in the same place as (or had previously been together with) another object that is treasure.

What should I do if I find something that may be Treasure?

You must report all finds of Treasure to a coroner for the district in which they are found within 14 days after the day on which you realised the find might be treasure.

Worcestershire County Museum can give information, advice and guidance on the Act. The Museum can also assist in reporting potential Treasure to the coroner.