Recording Our Past
Every year, in England and Wales, many thousands of archaeological objects are discovered. People using metal detectors unearth most but chance finds are also made by those out walking or digging in their gardens. In the past very little of this material was recorded by museums or archaeologists. This meant that a great deal of potentially important information was being lost. In response to this, the Department of Culture, Media & Sport initiated Finding Our Past: The Portable Antiquities Scheme, a voluntary scheme designed to encourage people to report their finds for recording purposes.
Somerset and Dorset run a joint Portable Antiquities Scheme. If you have found archaeological objects in either county that you wish to have recorded please contact the Finds Liaison Officer. Contact details appear below.
By reporting your finds you will be making an important contribution to knowledge and understanding about the past, both locally and nationally.
Medieval pilgrim badge found by John Slade, a Somerset metal detectorist.
Your questions answered:
What types of finds does the Scheme cover?
We would like to know about any objects that you find in fields, in your garden, etc. This includes metal objects such as coins, buckles, brooches and tools, as well as pottery, tile and worked stone. We will identify your finds and then, depending on their date and type, make a decision about whether they need to be recorded and at what level of detail.
If you are finding a lot of flint or pottery it would be best to contact us so that we can advise on the best way to deal with it. To start with you could, perhaps, show us a representative sample.
Whilst the scheme is primarily aimed at recording objects that have been unearthed recently, we would also be interested in seeing discoveries made in the past.
Please make sure that you have the permission of the landowner before metal detecting or fieldwalking.
You will need permission to be on the land and should agree with the landowner what will happen regarding the ownership and future of any objects found.
It is illegal to damage or remove anything from scheduled monuments.
What will happen to my finds?
The important thing about your finds, from the point of view of the scheme, is the information they provide.
YOUR FINDS WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
It may be possible to record some individual items on the spot. However, in order to properly record them we will probably like to borrow the finds for a few weeks, with your agreement. If you are happy to lend them, you will be given a receipt and they will be returned to you, with a copy of the information about them, as soon as possible. We will also be able to advise on conservation and storage for your finds.
This scheme is voluntary. You are not legally obliged to report finds unless there is the possibility that they are Treasure. Finds of potential Treasure must be reported to the local coroner within 14 days. Information and advice on Treasure is available from the Finds Liaison Officer and in the
What information will the Finds Liaison Officer want?
First of all we will want to record full details of the objects with descriptions, measurements and sketches. In some cases the finds may be particularly important or interesting in which case they will be photographed, digitally scanned or drawn. It is also very important to know where finds come from, so grid references or sketch maps are vital.
Who will have access to the information about my finds?
The details of finds will be recorded on a computerised database which will be available on the Internet, giving anyone who is interested access to the exciting new information generated by the scheme. The web address is: www.finds.org.uk.
Precise findspots will not be made available on the Internet.
Summaries of the information will also be passed to the local Sites and Monuments Records/Historic Environment Record.
Further information can be found at: www.somerset.gov.uk/heritage
and www.dorsetcc.gov.uk
Portable Antiquities Newsletter
PDF version
[1444.4k]
Lead cloth seal from Haarlem linen, found in Somerset. Kindly donated to the Somerset County Museum collections. Thanks to Geoff Egan, Museum of London, for the identification.
The aim of the scheme is to make as much of the information available as possible while protecting archaeological sites and your personal details.
We very much hope that you will report all finds that you make and thereby help extend our knowledge about the past.
For further information about the Treasure Act, please contact the Finds Liaison Officer.
For information about metal detecting please contact the National Council for Metal Detecting Western Region representative (from whom details of the NCMD Code of Conduct may also be obtained) or the Federation of Independent Detectorists.
To declare a find of potential Treasure, please contact the relevant local coroner and seek advice from the Finds Liaison Officer.
To contact the Finds Liaison Officer:
Finds Liaison Officer, Naomi Payne ; can be contacted in the following way:
Somerset County Museums Service,
Somerset County Museum,
Taunton Castle, Taunton TA1 4AA
Main Office: 01823 320200
Fax: 01823 320229
e-mail: ncpayne@somerset.gov.uk
To contact the County Coroners:
Western District of Somerset
Mr Richard Davies, Coroner's Officer,
Tel: 01823 363271
Eastern District of Somerset
Mr A Williams, Coroner's Office,
Tel: 01761 411030
West Dorset
Mr M Johnston, Coroner's Office,
Tel. 01258 453733
East Dorset
Mr S Payne, Coroner's Office
Tel. 01202 789057
Contact for the National Council for Metal Detecting (Western Region):
Mr R. Whalley
Tel & Fax: 0117 9240331
Contact for the Federation of Independent Metal Detectorists:
Mr C Hanson, Detector Lodge, 44 Heol Dulais, Swansea, 5A7 9LT
Heritage Lottery Fund, Resource, Somerset County Council, Dorset County Council and Dorset County Museum have supported these posts.
Top of Page
|
