Image Credit : PAS
Posted on 02/19/2024 12:12:42 AM PST by SunkenCiv
...The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a project managed by the British Museum to address the lack of provision for metal detectorists (and the general public) to be able to notify relevant authorities of archaeological discoveries and document objects in a curated database...
In the latest annual report that covers 2022, the PAS has documented 53,490 new submissions, 94% of which have been submitted by metal detectorists, and of which 1,384 have been reported as treasure under the Treasure Act 1996.
Bronze Age: 1,210 objects were recorded, which include a stone wrist-guard, a gold hoard containing a decorated bracelet and two gold strips or 'ribbons', a copper-alloy sword in the Ewart Park-type tradition, a faceted socketed axe, and a 3,000-year-old gold dress or cloak fastener.
Iron Age: 1,345 objects were recorded, including an extremely rare 'mask brooch', a complete copper-alloy strap mount, Gold quarter stater coins of the Belgae, high-tin copper-alloy 'potin' (coins), and 26 coins found hidden inside a flint container.
Roman Period: 18,495 objects were recorded, including a copper-alloy figurine of a satyr, a hoard of copper-alloy vessels, a silver openwork brooch, and numerous coin hoards.
Early Medieval: 2,774 objects were recorded, including a rectangular copper-alloy mounts, a Gold disc pendant, gold strap-ends, and a buckle plate decorated with champlevé enamel.
Medieval Period: 13,200 objects were recorded, which include a copper-alloy figurine, a gold locket in the form of a miniature padlock, and a carved bone rosary bead of memento mori type, showing the face of a young woman (possibly intended to represent the Virgin Mary) on one side and a skull (representing mortality) on the other.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritagedaily.com ...
A few years ago I was swimming in a lake and a guy was doing this in chest high water. I asked if he found anything but he had headphones on.
I follow several metal detecting social groups and see reports from many detectorists that have submitted some amazing finds.
I always say, “no”.
I am a London mudlark with official permit, and on my twice yearly trips to London from Texas I can’t wait to get down to the shore at low tide to search for interesting items. While other mudlarks on Facebook groups like Thames Foreshore Finds love metal items and coins, and have even found gold nuggets recently, I love the ceramic pieces that are everywhere on the shore. Medieval pots that still show the fingerprints of their makers, Roman tiles, pieces that were from buildings destroyed during World War II, and more are absolutely fascinating to me.
About 8 years back there was a show on National Geographic called Diggers. A couple of clownish Metal detector guys digging up various sites. There were some interesting finds over the three years of the show.
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