The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a national programme which assists with the recording of finds discovered by members of the public, usually through metal detecting.
Find out more about the Portable Antiquities Scheme (Finds.org)
You can bring finds for identification in the following ways:
- by prior appointment with the council's Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) at Sackville House, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6HL (Wednesdays), and Peterborough Museum (Fridays)
- at finds identification events at local museums
- other selected Cambridgeshire Archaeology events
The Finds.co.uk website has a document (PDF, 1MB) on advice for finders of treasure.
You can find this on the Finds.co.uk treasure webpage.
For more information or to arrange an appointment you can contact the Finds Liaison Officer on 01223 728 571 or pasadministration@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Reporting potential 'Treasure' objects
Finders must report all potential 'Treasure' finds to a Coroner for the district in which they are found, either:
- within 14 days after the day on which the discovery was made or
- within 14 days after the day on which it is realised the find might be treasure
The FLO can assist with this, as the Coroner’s representative.
There is a legal obligation under the Treasure Act 1996 to report objects that are gold or silver or groups of coins found at the same location, which are over 300 years old. Prehistoric base-metal assemblages found after 1 January 2003 also qualify as Treasure.
Potential Treasure finds must be deposited with the FLO as soon as possible after they are reported.
Objects found as a result of magnet fishing and river diving which meet these criteria should also be reported as potential Treasure.
The FLO can also assist with completing the Treasure recording form.
The list of information you will need to complete the Treasure recording form includes:
- The finder’s full name, address including post code, telephone number and email address (for all of the finders if more than one)
- The landowner’s full name, address including post code, telephone number and email address (for all of the finders if more than one)
- If there is a tenant on the land, their details as above
- The date the discovery was made
- The circumstances of discovery (i.e. found with use of metal detector, small building works, gardening etc.)
- The approximate depth of discovery below ground surface
- The Land type (i.e. cultivated, pasture, garden, orchard etc.)
- Location details including County, District, Parish and a National Grid Reference to a minimum of six figures or accurate to within 100 metres (not longitude and latitude).
- Site security is important to us and the FLO will discuss with you what you want the site to be identified as on the PAS database. This is so that members of the public who read the database record can only see what you agree is appropriate. This can be as broad as the County in which it was found.
For more information you can contact the Finds Liaison Officer on 01223 728571 or pasadministration@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Reporting potential 'Treasure' objects from archaeological fieldwork
More information and an editable form for staff members of archaeological organisations who are reporting potential treasure found as part of professional archaeological fieldwork within the county of Cambridgeshire and unitary authority of Peterborough can be downloaded.
For more information you can contact the Finds Liaison Officer on 01223 728 571 or pasadministration@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Export licences
All UK archaeological objects found in the ground and at least 50 years old need an export licence before they can be exported overseas.
There is information about export licences on the Arts Council website.
For more information you can contact the Finds Liaison Officer on 01223 728 571 or pasadministration@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
