Role: Head of Scheme and Treasure
Database records prefix: PAS
Address: Department of Learning and National Partnerships, The British Museum,
Great Russell Street,
London,
Greater London,
WC1B 3DG
Short profile:
Michael joined the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) in 2000 as Finds Liaison Officer Kent. He was appointed Outreach Officer the following year. In 2003, following the expansion of the Scheme to the whole of England and Wales, Michael became Deputy Head of the PAS, and (since 2015) is now Head of the Scheme.
Michael read his BA in History/Theology (Surrey/Roehampton), MA in Medieval Studies (York) and PhD in History (Kent). His PhD is on The Archaeological Authority of the Bayeux Tapestry. In 2008, Michael co-organised an international symposium on the Bayeux Tapestry, which was published in 2011 as The Bayeux Tapestry: new approaches (with Gale Owen Crocker and Dan Terkla). Since then he has written widely on the Bayeux Tapestry, including a new book with Dave Musgrove - The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry (2021). He is on the Bayeux Tapestry Scientific Committee.
Michael has also edited the PAS annual reports since 2002. He co-edited (with Sally Worrell, Geoff Egan, John Naylor and Kevin Keahy) A Decade of Discovery: Proceedings of the PAS Conference 2007. With Kevin Leahy he wrote the popular detecting books Finds Identified (2018) and Finds Identified II (2020): the next book in the trilogy is to be published in 2023. Michael has also written numerous articles on medieval and post-medieval small finds, and has a particular interest in items associated with everyday life and religion.
He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA), a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars. Michael is also the Secretary of the Portable Antiquities Advisory Group (PAAG) and is an Adviser to the All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG). For five years Michael was a Special Police Constable with the Metropolitan Police Services' Art & Antiques Unit.
Michael's main role is to manage the work of the Scheme's Finds Advisers and Finds Liaison Officers in England, and lead on the Scheme's advocacy work. He is the main contact for export licensing and heritage crime.
It is best to contact Michael by email (mlewis@britishmuseum.org). Alternatively leave a message on 0207 323 8611
Phone (work): +44 (0)207 323 8611
Phone (fax): 0207 323 8611
Email address: mlewis@britishmuseum.org
View all records created by: Michael Lewis
Period | Finds | Records |
---|---|---|
Iron Age | 342 | 314 |
Medieval | 757 | 705 |
Post Medieval | 540 | 468 |
Roman | 547 | 496 |
Unknown | 178 | 143 |
Early Medieval | 116 | 114 |
Neolithic | 24 | 24 |
Bronze Age | 17 | 17 |
Palaeolithic | 11 | 11 |
Greek And Roman Provincial | 7 | 7 |
Modern | 1 | 1 |
Year | Quarter | Finds | Records |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
2000 | 3 | 88 | 88 |
2000 | 4 | 409 | 271 |
2001 | 1 | 579 | 565 |
2001 | 2 | 630 | 577 |
2001 | 3 | 329 | 327 |
2001 | 4 | 161 | 131 |
2002 | 1 | 324 | 323 |
2011 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
2012 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
2012 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
2013 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
2013 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
2013 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
2014 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2014 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
2017 | 1 | 3 | 3 |