How to Report a Find to the Portable Antiquities Scheme: A Complete Guide for UK Metal Detectorists

If you have been metal detecting in England or Wales and unearthed something of potential historical significance, reporting your find to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is not just good practice — in many cases, it is a legal requirement. Understanding the process of recording and reporting finds can feel daunting for newcomers, but it is straightforward once you know the steps involved. This guide walks you through everything from identifying what needs to be reported, to visiting a Finds Liaison Officer and checking your find onto the national database.

Whether you have just pulled a Roman coin from a field in Norfolk, stumbled upon a medieval buckle in Shropshire, or recovered a Bronze Age axe head from the banks of the Thames, this guide will help you handle the process correctly, protect your legal standing, and contribute to the broader understanding of Britain’s rich archaeological heritage.

What Is the Portable Antiquities Scheme?

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary recording programme managed by the British Museum in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru — Museum Wales. It was established in 1997 following growing concerns about the volume of archaeological finds being made by members of the public — particularly metal detectorists — that were going unrecorded. The scheme operates through a network of Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs) based across England and Wales, each responsible for a specific geographic region.

The PAS database, which is publicly accessible at finds.org.uk, now holds well over 1.7 million recorded objects. These records are a genuine scientific resource used by archaeologists, historians, museum curators, and academics to map settlement patterns, trade routes, and cultural change across the centuries. By reporting your finds, you are directly contributing to that body of knowledge.

It is important to note that the PAS currently operates only in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legislation and recording frameworks. If you are detecting in Scotland, finds of potential significance are handled under the Treasure Trove system, administered by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and you should report finds to the Treasure Trove Unit in Edinburgh. Northern Ireland operates under the Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

Understanding the Treasure Act 1996

Before looking at how to report a find, it is essential to understand what constitutes Treasure under English and Welsh law. The Treasure Act 1996 defines specific categories of finds that must by law be reported to the local coroner. Failure to report Treasure is a criminal offence, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to three months and/or an unlimited fine.

What Counts as Treasure?

Under the Treasure Act 1996 and its subsequent amendments, the following are classified as Treasure:

• Any object, other than a coin, that is at least 300 years old and contains at least 10% precious metal (gold or silver) by weight.
• Any group of two or more metallic objects of prehistoric date found in the same location.
• Any coin from a hoard of two or more coins, provided the coins are at least 300 years old. If the coins contain less than 10% precious metal, the hoard must consist of at least ten coins to qualify.
• Any object found in association with Treasure, or any object that would have been Treasure if it had not been made of base metal.
• Objects of any composition that are at least 200 years old and belong to a class designated as Treasure by the Secretary of State.

The 2023 amendments to the Treasure Act also introduced provisions for objects of outstanding significance, regardless of precious metal content, expanding the scope of what may be considered Treasure. These amendments were a landmark step in modernising the legislation and closing loopholes that previously allowed historically important items made of non-precious metals to fall outside the definition.

If you are in any doubt about whether your find might constitute Treasure, treat it as if it does and report it. The consequences of not reporting are far more serious than going through the process unnecessarily.

Step One: Stop Digging and Record the Find Spot

The moment you suspect you have found something of significance, the first thing to do is stop. Do not continue to dig around the object without considering the archaeological context. Context — meaning the exact location, soil layer, and relationship of the find to surrounding objects — is often as important as the object itself to archaeologists.

Record the GPS Coordinates

Use your smartphone or a dedicated GPS unit to record the precise coordinates of your find. Most modern detectors, such as the Minelab Equinox 900 or the XP Deus II, allow you to log find locations directly through companion apps. Alternatively, apps such as what3words or Google Maps can save a pin at the exact spot.

Record the grid reference to at least six figures using the Ordnance Survey National Grid system where possible. A four-figure grid reference narrows a location to a one-kilometre square, which is not precise enough for archaeological recording. A six-figure reference narrows it to a 100-metre square, and an eight-figure reference to a ten-metre square — the latter is ideal.

Photograph the Find in Situ

Before removing the object from the ground, photograph it exactly as it was found. Take several photos from different angles, including at least one shot that shows the object in context with the surrounding soil and landscape. These photographs are genuinely useful for the Finds Liaison Officer and, in the case of Treasure, for the coroner and the British Museum’s Treasure Department.

Note the depth at which the object was found, the colour and texture of the surrounding soil, and whether there were any other objects nearby. Write these details down immediately, either in a dedicated finds notebook or using a notes app on your phone. Memory is unreliable — details fade quickly, especially after an exciting discovery.

Step Two: Handle the Find Correctly

How you handle a find immediately after recovery can affect its condition, its value for study, and its eligibility for conservation funding. A few basic rules apply.

Do Not Clean the Object

Resist the urge to scrub the find clean, even with water. Cleaning an object improperly can destroy patina, remove surface detail, and in some cases cause irreversible chemical damage. Corrosion products on metal objects often contain useful information about the object’s composition and burial environment. Leave cleaning to a conservator unless you are experienced with specific materials.

A gentle wipe with a dry cloth to remove loose soil is generally acceptable for stable metallic objects, but anything that appears fragile, corroded, or composite should be left entirely as found until it has been assessed by an expert.

Store the Find Safely

Place the object in a sealed plastic bag or a small cardboard box lined with acid-free tissue. Avoid storing metallic finds in direct contact with plastic for extended periods without proper packing, as condensation can promote corrosion. Keep iron and ferrous objects separate from non-ferrous ones to prevent cross-contamination. Store finds in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight.

Step Three: Identify Your Local Finds Liaison Officer

The Portable Antiquities Scheme has Finds Liaison Officers stationed across England and Wales. Each FLO covers a specific county or region, and your local officer is your primary point of contact for recording finds.

How to Find Your FLO

The easiest way to locate your FLO is to visit the PAS website at finds.org.uk and use the “Find Your Local FLO” tool. Enter your county or postcode and the site will direct you to your officer’s contact details, including their email address and institutional base — which is usually a county museum or county council heritage service.

Examples of FLO host institutions include:

• The Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery (for Norfolk and Suffolk)
• The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (for Oxfordshire)
• The Portable Antiquities Scheme at the British Museum (national coordination)
• Wiltshire Museum, Devizes (for Wiltshire)
• Hampshire Cultural Trust (for Hampshire)

FLOs are typically employed part-time or full-time by their host institution with funding from the British Museum or Historic England. They are specialists in their region and often have considerable expertise in identifying local material culture.

Step Four: Contact the FLO and Arrange a Recording Appointment

Once you have identified your FLO, get in touch by email or phone. Most FLOs prefer initial contact by email as they are often out in the field or at recording events. When you write, include:

• Your name and contact details.
• A brief description of the find, including the material, approximate size, and what you think it might be.
• The approximate find location — you do not need to give the exact grid reference by email, but knowing the county and general area helps the FLO advise you appropriately.
• The date of discovery.
• Any photographs you have taken.

If the find is potentially Treasure, say so clearly and the FLO will advise you on the reporting timeline. You have a legal obligation to report Treasure to the local coroner within 14 days of discovering that the find might be Treasure, or within 14 days of the date you find it, if you already know it constitutes Treasure at that point.

Attending Recording Days

Many FLOs hold regular recording days at county museums or detecting rallies, where members of the public can bring in finds for identification and recording. These events are an excellent opportunity to meet your FLO in person, get multiple finds recorded at once, and connect with other detectorists and history enthusiasts. Details of upcoming recording days are often posted on the PAS website, local museum websites, and in the newsletters of detecting clubs such as the National Council for Metal Detecting (NCMD) and the Federation of Independent Detectorists (FID).

Step Five: The Recording Process Explained

When you meet with your FLO, either at a recording day or by individual appointment, they will examine your find and record its details on the PAS database. Here is what to expect.

Identification

The FLO will examine the object and provide an identification where possible. They may consult reference books, online databases such as the Oxford Reference Handbook of Archaeological finds, or colleagues at the British Museum. In some cases, specialist identification takes time — particularly for coins from less common periods, or for objects made of unusual alloys.

Do not be disappointed if your FLO cannot immediately provide a definitive identification. Some objects genuinely require specialist analysis and may take weeks or months to classify accurately.

Measurements and Description

The FLO will take precise measurements of the object — length, width, thickness, and weight. They will describe its condition, material composition, decoration, and any surviving inscriptions or maker’s marks. This information forms the core of the PAS database record.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.