The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is a voluntary recording scheme for archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. Every year thousands of archaeological objects are discovered, many of these by metal detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work.  

The PAS records objects that date from Prehistory to the 1650s. All finds are recorded on to an online public database and are searchable by object type, time period and findspot location. Recording these objects has created a valuable resource that can be used for a wide variety of research projects and helps to us to better understand our past. 

Reporting finds  

If you would like to record an archaeological find, find out more about the Portable Antiquities Scheme or the Treasure Act, please contact our local Finds Liaison Officer, Rebecca Griffiths (contact details below). Rebecca covers the area of North and East Yorkshire and is based at the Yorkshire Museum, York. 

Finds Days 

Rebecca hosts a series of Finds Days during which people can bring in the finds they have for identification and recording. From 2022, Finds Days will take place at the Yorkshire Museum, York, Hull & East Riding Museum, Hull and Woodend Gallery, Scarborough. These are pre-bookable events with 15-minute slots. Eligible finds are borrowed for three months and returned with an identification at the following event.  

You can see the dates of our Finds Days and register for a slot here: BOOK FINDS DAY 

Appointments 

You can now book one-to-one 15-minute appointments with the FLO at the Yorkshire Museum to offer your archaeological objects for identification and recording. Objects are borrowed for 3 months, then returned with an identification. 

Please contact Rebecca for the next available dates. 

While we have been able to accept drop in visits in the past our current mix of home and office working means this is no longer possible. To avoid disappointment, please book.  

Finds Identification 

If you would like a brief identification of an object, and to know if it is eligible for recording with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, please send: 

• Digital images of the front, back and side of the object with a scale bar or ruler (see guide) 
• A minimum 6-figure grid reference (but more precise if possible) of the find spot (see guide) 
• The date of discovery 

Treasure 

In accordance with the 1996 Treasure Act, all finds of potential Treasure must be reported within 14 days. We are continuing to process finds of potential Treasure remotely until they can be handed in. In order to help with this, if you have an object which you believe may constitute potential Treasure, please send the following details by e-mail, and await further instruction. 

• Your full name and address 
• The full name, postal address and e-mail address of the landowner and occupier (in cases of tenanted land) 
• A minimum 6-figure National Grid Reference (NGR) for where the find was made (a simple guide to findspots is available here) 
• The depth at which the object was discovered 
• The type of land on which it was found (i.e. cultivated or pasture) 

• Date of discovery 
• Digital photographs (a basic guide to finds photography is available here). 

Your e-mail will satisfy the 14 day notification period required under the Treasure Act. 

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Contact 

Rebecca Griffiths 

Finds Liaison Officer for North & East Yorkshire 

Email: Rebecca.griffiths@ymt.org.uk 

Telephone: 01904 687 668 

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