The Institute of Conservation (ICON) Archaeology Group are pleased to announce the publication of this ground-breaking conference held in December 2003 at the British Museum.
“Whose Find is it Anyway?” heard the views of all parties involved in metal detecting and the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). It was a forum to examine some existing local initiatives and to raise issues and concerns about the current situation. Although at the time of conference the PAS had been running for six years and had increased dialogue between detectorists and archaeologists, communication was still too sporadic and unreliable. At the conference speakers from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, conservators, detectorists, archaeologists and scientists talked about the life of finds after recovery, their investigation, and care. Topics touched upon include the contribution of detectorists to the archaeological record, the information that can be gathered from most unlikely sources, conservation procedures and the dangers of some old ‘kitchen table’ conservation recipes. The book is full of photos. All the talks are fully illustrated in colour with their original slides, interesting pictures include action shots of objects being recovered in the field, X rays and hidden details discovered when objects are investigated. There are also many interesting objects seen before and after conservation.
The publication includes the lively and constructive discussion sessions, which covered many topics highlighted in the papers and other issues raised by the delegates. Recording finds, reward issues and conservation problems were key concerns amongst the many aspects of detecting that were discussed.
By the end of the conference, many suggestions for the future had been made. These are all collected together as an aide memoire for all concerned and although many ideas have already been taken forward, some are still to be acted upon. It is as a direct result of this conference that a pilot scheme for conservation was included in the Portable Antiquities Scheme and much work has been done in the last few years to find ways to help detectorists to look after their finds. It will be interesting to look back and see progress in a few years time. Delegates repeatedly emphasised the need to recognise the value of the objects for the information and knowledge they hold and the need for all concerned to recognise their responsibility for the long-term survival of these objects.
This book is a must buy for all those involved in our heritage to learn about the debates within archaeology and to be involved in the future of the PAS. This important publication retails at £15. We are offering it to members of AIC, CCI, ECCO, ICON and IIC at a reduced price of £10 + postage (UK postage £1).
To buy a copy of the book, please send your cheques, made payable to ICON, for £10 plus postage to:
Kirsten Suenson-Taylor, Mill House, South Newington, Banbury, OXON OX15 4JE. k.suenson@virgin.net.
I’ve recently been asked if I can host a podcast generated by a work experience student who spent some time working with the Scheme. Below is a bit of background to put George’s podcast in context (it works best with iTunes as you get the pictures embedded.)
Today sees the opening of the British Museum’s groundbreaking exhibition about the 
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The Scheme’s RSS offer has been updated over the last few days and I have now added the following to our list of feeds that you can subscribe to:
Last week I installed and configured 
