The Portable Antiquities Scheme

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Welcome to the Portable Antiquities Scheme website

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme to record archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. 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.

This website provides background information on the Portable Antiquities Scheme, news articles, events listings and access to our database of objects and images.

The Treasure Act

All finders of gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same findspot, which are 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. This website provides further information for finders of potential Treasure.

Website highly commended for 'Best archaeological innovation'
Staffordshire Hoard winner of 'Best discovery' in BAA 2010.

Another example of digital classics/antiquities getting it right: http://www.finds.org.uk/

Sean Gillies, NYU http://twitter.com/sgillies/status/12153868590

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