Welcome to the Portable Antiquities Scheme website

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a DCMS funded project to encourage the voluntary recording of 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.

Lost Change: Mapping coins

This new application, developed with funding from CreativeWorks London and built by Tracemedia has just been launched.

Launch Lost Change

Amazing discoveries.

New finds are uncovered and reported daily. It is easy to get involved with the Scheme and report your discoveries.

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See more about what we do...

Our images on Flickr are liberally licensed. You might find something that you can use or learn more about our mission.

Browse our flickrstream

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Micropasts

A community platform for conducting, designing and funding research into our human past. The Scheme's latest partnership project in conjunction with UCL and funded by the AHRC.

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Latest tweets

1 day, 16 hours ago findsorguk said: RT @ajdaubney: A rather elaborate #Roman trumpet brooch found near Sleaford #findsfriday @findsorguk https://t.co/BrzFZphw6x
1 day, 16 hours ago findsorguk said: RT @VOakden_FLO: Now to put it into practice #photography #PAStExplorers https://t.co/ocV7s2JWlB

Learn about coins

Iron Age
Roman
Byzantine
Greek & Roman Provincial
Early Medieval
Medieval
Post Medieval

Staffordshire Hoard papers

The Staffordshire Hoard symposium papers have been published for all to access and edited by Helen Geake. The hoard's records are being added slowly to the database.

Bronze Age object guide

Learn about Bronze Age objects, their form and function. This guide was written by Ben Roberts, Alessia Murgia, Emma Traherne and David Parker.

Day of Archaeology

Following on from the first two years of the Day of Archaeology project, 2013 saw the third iteration of the project. You can find out more about what over 400 archaeologists do for a career.

PASt Explorers

Get involved with the Scheme as part of the PASt Explorers project.

Research in progress

The Scheme's database provides the basis of over 370 research projects and has enabled the Scheme to gain funding for several large grants - Leverhulme and AHRC funding for instance.