About

Portable Antiquities Scheme

Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS)

**CORONAVIRUS: IMPORTANT ADVICE ON REPORTING PUBLIC FINDS, INCLUDING POTENTIAL TREASURE, DURING THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD**

Under the Treasure Act 1996, it is a legal obligation for the finder to report potential Treasure. For all new finds of potential Treasure, finders must notify their local Finds Liaison Officer and/or the British Museum treasure team (in England) by email (treasure@britishmuseum.org), with photographs of the object and full details of the findspot, finder and landowner details, and await further instruction. The necessary precautions mean there may be delays in the Treasure process. We thank finders, landowners, occupiers and everyone involved in the process for their understanding, patience and cooperation during this time.

Portable Antiquities Scheme staff will no longer meet finders in person or undertake outreach work until further notice. Most Portable Antiquities Scheme staff, including Finds Liaison Officers, will remain contactable by email, so, therefore, can advise on the recording of finds (such as self-recording). We ask that you temporarily retain your non-Treasure finds for full recording at a later date. Please ensure that you keep detailed records of the findspot in accordance with the Code of Practice for Responsible Metal-Detecting in England and Wales.

Finders in Wales and Northern Ireland should contact the relevant authorities for advice.

The latest government guidance on searching for archaeological finds in England during COVID-19 can be found here.

What is the Portable Antiquities Scheme?

The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is run by the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales to encourage the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. Every year many thousands of archaeological objects are discovered, many of these by metal detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily lives. Finds recorded with the Scheme help advance knowledge of the history and archaeology of England and Wales (the PAS finds database can be found here). The Scheme consists of locally-based Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs) whose job is to liaise with finders and record their finds.

Who is my local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO)?

Meghan King is the Finds Liaison Officer for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

Megan Gard is the Finds Liaison Officer for Rutland & Leicestershire. Up-to-date details of all the staff working for the PAS can be found here.

What do they need to know?

FLOs are interested in seeing all archaeological objects and coins that you have found, but need to be selective in what they record. Finds will be borrowed from you, but will be returned once they have been identified and recorded. It is important that you supply a precise National Grid Reference (at least to 6-figures) for all finds, as without a location, they have little archaeological value. Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders must by law report finds of potential Treasure: the definition of Treasure can be found here. It is normally the case that such finds are reported to the relevant FLO, who is able to provide further advice and guidance on the process.”