The Portable Antiquities Scheme

At a meeting to present archaeological policy, the Conservative Party spokesman on Archaeology, Malcolm Moss MP, welcomed the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and called upon the Government to ensure its long-term future.

The 'Historic Environment Forum' meeting at the Society of Antiquaries in London on 27^th November 2002 provided the forum for representatives of political parties to present their policies on 'archaeology and the historic environment'.

In his presentation the Conservative Party spokesman on Archaeology, Mr Moss (Member of Parliament for North Cambridgeshire) welcomed the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, and commended the Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund for ensuring the Scheme success in the short-term; until April 2006, when Lottery funding ends. However, he expressed concerns for the future of the Scheme after that. Mr Moss said that 'the Portable Antiquities Scheme had been incredibly successful', and 'in no way can't it continue after that'. He urged the Government to 'commit to the Scheme's long-term funding'.

At the same meeting Lord Redesdale, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Archaeology, confirmed his party's support for funding the Portable Antiquities Scheme in the long-term.

The BBC are looking for stories and finds to feature in a new popular archaeology series which starts filming in January 2003.

The series will look at the world of metal-detecting and show how this hobby has led to some of the most exciting archaeological discoveries of recent years. We will also see how metal-detectorists support archaeologists by helping survey sites or by offering their support at excavations.

In addition we will look at the Portable Antiquities Scheme's role in raising public awareness to the importance of reporting finds and how these detector finds are revolutionising our understanding of the past.

If you have a story to tell about an interesting find we would like to hear it.

Please contact us on the one of the numbers below:

Ceinwen Paynton

Portable Antiquities Scheme

07881 912571

cpaynton@yahoo.co.uk

Trevor Austin

National Council for Metal Detecting

01709 868 521

trevor.austin@ncmd.co.uk

Or contact the Hidden Treasure team direct on 020 8752 6592 or at

Hidden.treasure@bbc.co.uk ;

Or write to us at

Hidden Treasure

Room 3120

BBC White City

201 Wood Lane

Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, welcomed over 100 delegates from all over England and Wales to the 'launch' event in London. The delegates comprised of archaeologists, museum specialists, metal-detecting representatives and individuals from other interested organisations. In his speech Dr MacGregor made special note the Museum's contribution to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and in particular its work supporting the Treasure Act.

Left to right - Roger Bland (Head of Portable Antiquities), Anna Southall (Chief Executive, Resource), Baroness Blackstone (Minister for the Arts) and Neil MacGregor (Director, British Museum)

After which Baroness Blackstone, Minister for the Arts, formally launched the Portable Antiquities Report 2000-1, which she described as a 'wonderful document' [a full version of this report as a pdf file can be found by clicking on the link below]. In her speech the Minister paid tribute to the 'dedication and hard work of the Finds Liaison Officers' and also noted the contribution of finders.

She was followed by Anna Southall, Chief Executive of Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, who explained the role of Resource leading a consortium of bodies that manage the Scheme, providing technical support and expertise. She also formally launched the 'new look' Portable Antiquities Scheme website, after which an 'interactive demonstration' was given by Andrea Cordani, Resource's Website Manager.     

After lunch Roger Bland, Co-ordinator of the Portable Antiquities Scheme gave an 'Introduction to the Scheme'. He first talked about the origins and background of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and then discussed some of its achievements to date. Dr Bland also looked to the future, in particular the expansion of the Scheme to the whole of England and Wales from April 2003 when new Finds Liaison Officers and supporting posts will be appointed.

Lisa Voden-Decker, Treasure Registrar at the British Museum, then discussed 'the Treasure Act and the role of national museums and local advisers'. She gave an introduction to the Act from its inception and talked about the role of her office. She also made special note of the important contribution of the Finds Liaison Officers to the smooth running of the Treasure Act.

Next Angie Bolton, Finds Liaison Officer for the West Midlands, gave an upbeat and light hearted talk about the 'Life of a Finds Liaison Officer'. This was primarily directed at local partners who will be appointing new Finds Liaison Officers. She advised them on the facilities and support needed to ensure local liaison is a success.

Finally delegates heard from Richard Brewer, Keeper of Archaeology and Numismatics at the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, who talked about 'Managing the Scheme in Wales'. He demonstrated about how his department supported the role of the Finds Co-ordinator, and the contribution the finds already recorded had added to our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Wales.

The meeting was brought to a close by Roger Bland, who fielded questions from delegates on many of the different aspects of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

A staggering 37,518 archaeological objects - including jewellery, coins and prehistoric household items - were reported during 2000 under the Culture Department's Portable Antiquities Scheme, according to a report published today.  Before the scheme's introduction in 1997, many of these would have gone unreported, and their importance to our history lost forever.

And these finds have led to the discovery of several important archaeological sites, including an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Hampshire and a post-Medieval kiln site in Dorset.

But these reported finds were only about ten per cent of the total number of items discovered by metal detector users and others during the period.

The Portable Antiquities Annual Report 2000-2001 also highlights the success of the Resource bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to extend the scheme to all parts of England and Wales from 2003.  Lottery funding, together with money from the DCMS will ensure the Scheme's future until at least 2006.

Arts Minister Tessa Blackstone said:  "The Portable Antiquities Scheme has been a resounding success since its introduction in 1997.  The country's archaeology is its hidden heritage, providing a priceless - and irreplaceable - record of the culture and social history of this island.  I pay tribute to the hard work of the Finds Liaison Officers who record the objects found, and to the thousands of metal detectorists and others whose perseverance and enthusiasm are doing so much to provide new insights into our ancient history."

A new Portable Antiquities website - www.finds.org.uk - has also been launched today.  It has been designed with help from Resource and is the principal means by which the data gathered by the Finds Liaison Officers is published and made available.  The on-line database now holds information about over 30,000 finds recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, offering an important research tool for both academics and the public at large.

Resource Chief Executive Anna Southall said:  "This new-look website will be useful for disseminating information about the scheme and helping to interest and involve people in archaeology.  New features include a finds showcase displaying unusual and interesting finds recorded by the scheme, and regional news pages, which allow visitors to learn more about exciting local discoveries and events happening in their area."

Notes to Editors:

Copies of the Report are available from the DCMS and on its website at www.culture.gov.uk and also on the Portable Antiquities website at: http://www.finds.org.uk/documents/annual4.pdf

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6276\6272 Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153 Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200 Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH

In a bold move The National Council of Metal Detecting (Southern Region) has recently updated its constitution with a strong emphasise upon liaison with the archaeological community and encouraging members to record their finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

In its constitution it is a stated object (aim) of The National Council of Metal Detecting (Southern Region) 'to encourage members to record their finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme'. With responsibility at its core the document goes on to say that 'The NCMD Southern Region believes that finders of historical and archaeological objects have a responsibility to our heritage and that of future generations'. To assist in achieving this objective it is stated that The National Council of Metal Detecting (Southern Region) will 'give full support to the Portable Antiquities Scheme'.

David Barwell, Co-ordination & Research Officer of the NCMD Southern Region, said that 'metal-detector finds offer a potentially valuable contribution to our understanding of the past, and it is therefore important that these finds are recorded with the Finds Liaison Officers of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. This is why the constitution of the NCMD Southern Region has been updated'.

Roger Bland, Co-ordinator of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, welcomed this move saying that 'this is a bold move by the National Council of Metal Detecting (Southern Region) and demonstrates to archaeologists that many metal detectorists are making serious efforts to contribute to archaeology and our understanding of the past'.

In a debate on the Treasure (Designation) Order 2002 there was cross-party support in the House of Lords for the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Lord's also call for the Government to ensure the Scheme's long-term funding.

Baroness Blackstone (The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport) praised the Scheme's Finds Liaison Officers, who she said

"have played an often crucial role in helping finders to report their finds and ensuring the smooth running of the (Treasure Act) system".

She added, 'thanks to the (Finds) Liaison Officers, it is already obvious that a significant number of finds have been reported as Treasure that would not otherwise have been', and that 'the Act, with the support of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, has achieved considerable success in mapping, protecting and bringing the general public closer to the more sensitive parts of our archaeological heritage, which would otherwise be lost'.

In reply Baroness Trumpington (Conservative) commented that 'In view of the Government's decision to extend the Act, do they accept the need to provide long-term stable funding for a nation-wide network of Finds Liaison Officers to make it work?'

These concerns were also mirrored by Lord Renfrew (Conservative) who said: 'I also salute the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme initiated by the department (of Culture Media and Sport). It is splendid news that the number of (Finds) Liaison Officers will increase from the pilot scheme number (of) 12 to 36, to cover the whole of England and Wales. The department has been fortunate and, perhaps, skilful in arranging things so that the Heritage Lottery Fund is covering the expense of the enterprise for three years. However, as my noble friend (Baroness Trumpington) said, there are anxieties about what will follow. I understand that the Heritage Lottery Fund people have said privately that they do not intend to pay for the work for any further period. I ask the Minister for an assurance that her department is examining ways in which the Scheme will continue to be funded after April 2006. It is a national responsibility, and I hope for some encouragement from the Minister that the department regards it as such'.

Lord Renfrew also noted that 'in the debate in the House of Commons Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, Mr Richard Caborn (Minister for Sport) said that (the Finds) Liaison Officers played, "an often crucial role in helping finders report their finds and in ensuring the smooth running of the system. Thanks to the (Finds) Liaison Officers, it is already obvious that a significant number of finds have been reported as treasure that would otherwise not have been"'. [Official Report, Commons Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, 16/7/02; col. 5.].

Lord Redesdale (Liberal Democrat) also joined the debate. He praised the Minister for doing 'her utmost to ensure that the Portable Antiquities Scheme will survive in its present form and will be allowed to continue until the start of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is welcome and will give the Scheme another three years'. However, he added that this 'will lead to a big problem in three years' time because representatives of the Heritage Lottery Fund, in giving evidence to the All-Party Archaeological Group, have categorically stated that they will not fund the Scheme past that three-year limit. That will lead to further debate in the House and to further careful appraisal of how the Government should finance the Scheme.

Lord Redesdale also added that 'it is only right that today we give thanks not only to the Minister but also to those who work with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The treasure officers (sic Finds Liaison Officers) do such good work in liasing with the metal detectorists. Many metal detectorists do sterling work, not to make financial profit but to protect the historic heritage'.

Baroness Buscombe (Conservative) also reiterated concerns about the long-term funding of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. She said 'it must be made possible to have a sustainable nation-wide network of Find Liaison Officers to support compliance with the (Treasure) Act'.

In her reply Baroness Blackstone gave reassurance to the question of long-term sustainability of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. She stated that 'I was asked about the Portable Antiquities Scheme and whether I can given an assurance that it will receive long-term funding. Like other speakers, I was delighted to know that the Heritage Lottery Fund was able to support the Scheme. That funding will expire in April 2006. In the mean time, I will give the reassurance that has been requested today: that the DCMS will give active thought to the question of the long-term sustainability of the Scheme.

On the question of the revision of the Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice, the motion was agreed.

In September 2002 a late 'Viking Age' sword of the 10th or 11th century was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales. The lower part of the iron blade is missing, but otherwise the sword is in good condition. The hilt has a three-lobed pommel, which is characteristic of swords of this period. Conservators at the National Museums & Galleries of Wales have x-rayed the sword to determine details of the hilt and to view the surviving metal beneath the layers of iron corrosion.
This object is the first known iron sword of this date to be found in Wales with a good provenance.

X-ray of Viking Age sword

Lord Redesdale, the Liberal Democrat Archaeology Spokesman in the House of Lords, and Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Archaeological Group, recentlypublished a statement saying that'the Liberal Democrats welcome the efforts the Government has made to promote the reporting and recording of historical finds', but added'it is a matter of concern that the extension of the Portable Antiquities Scheme will only be for three years, and funded by a one-off Heritage Lottery Fund grant'.He urged Ministers to address the threat to the Portable Antiquities Scheme's survival: 'when the Lottery funding ends (in March 2006), we will be back to square one with the Scheme on the point of folding'.

The Liberal Democrats support for the Scheme was also advocated at their Summer Conference at Brighton when delegates overwhelmingly supported a call for a 'comprehensive and fully funded Portable Antiquities Scheme'.

The view that the Portable Antiquities Scheme should be funded in the long-term is rapidly gaining cross-party support. During a debate at the House of Commons of the Draft Treasure Order 2002 and Revised Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice Tim Loughton (Conservative Member of Parliament for East Worthing and Shoreham) expressed hopes that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport would find the necessary long-term funding to secure the future of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. He said that 'the Scheme has been tremendously valuable, and it would be an enormous loss to British archaeology if it did not carry on'.

Baroness Blackstone, Minister of State for the Arts, sought to address these concerns in her foreword to the Portable Antiquities Annual Report 2000-2001, which is to be published imminently.

She says,'looking to the future, there are a number of developing initiatives that offer an opportunity for the long-term future of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Resource's recent report, Renaissance for the Regions, which my Department has welcomed, proposes the establishment of a network of regional museum hubs to provide centres of excellence. We have asked Resource to draw up an action plan for the implementation of these proposals, which I believe could provide a framework for the Finds Liaison Officer posts'.

On Thursday 14th November 2002 (from 1 to 4 pm) Andrew Richardson, the Finds Liaison Officer for Kent, will be at Dartford Borough Museum to help identify and record archaeological finds discovered by members of the public and metal detector users.
For anyone who is unable to make this day (or time) Dartford Borough Museum welcomes you to bring along your finds anytime the museum is open.
Records of all archaeological objects identified and recorded by the museum are also passed on to;the local Finds Liaison Officer.

The Kent Anglo-Saxon Brooch Project was launched by Keith Parfitt (Dover Archaeological Group) and Michael Lewis (Portable Antiquities Scheme) in August 2001, with the backing of Dr Martin Welch of the Institute of Archaeology, University College, London. The aim of the project is to help archaeologists and historians better understand the links between the kingdom of Kent and the Anglo-Saxon homelands.
The shapes and forms of Anglo-Saxon brooches differ from region to region, and can provide evidence of the cultural and ethnic affinities of their wearers. In Kent the types of brooches most commonly found in Anglo-Saxon graves are Kentish disc and square-headed brooches, and Frankish radiate-headed brooches. However the types of brooches recovered by metal detectorists in the county do not seem to match this pattern, with cruciform brooches in particular (a type very rarely found in graves) being common finds.

This may be of considerable significance for our understanding of migration period Kent, representing archaeological evidence of links between fifth-century Kent and southern Scandinavia. Historical evidence for such a link has long been known, the eighth-century historian Bede recording that the inhabitants of Kent were descended from the Jutes, a tribe from what is now Denmark. Hitherto, however, archaeological evidence for Jutes in Kent has proved inconclusive.
Preliminary results indicate that amongst brooches found by metal detectorists in Kent, cruciform, button and small-long brooches are the most commonly found types. Further study and recording of more brooches will be necessary to see if this pattern is maintained.
If you have found an Anglo-Saxon brooch in Kent you can contribute to the project by having the brooch recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Please contact Andrew Richardson (Finds Liaison Officer) at Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX (01622 221544), or by email andrew.richardson@kent.gov.uk.