Treasuring Our Collection

2017 marks the 20^th anniversary of the Treasure Act, which states that you must legally report any finds classed as Treasure by the Act to the coroner.

To celebrate this anniversary, we have a new display in the Sun Lounge that shows objects in our collection that have been acquired through the Treasure Act. Also on display are objects that should be classified as Treasure but predate the Act, as well as a couple of red herrings. If you’re popping in to visit us this winter, use the pointers below to help you figure out which of these objects is genuine Treasure!

Treasure in the Sun Lounge

Treasure is defined in different ways by the Act, but to summarise, it includes:

• Any metal object containing at least 10% either gold or silver and at least 300 years old when found.
• Prehistoric metal, provided any part of it is precious metal
• Prehistoric metal of any composition, if it is found in a group of two or more objects as part of the same find
• Two or more coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found and contain 10% either gold or silver

Any object that classes as Treasure must be reported to the coroner within 14 days of its discovery. After this it will be identified by the local Finds Liaison Officer, and may eventually be purchased by a museum.

This Act protects our cultural heritage and allows nationally important items to be recorded and preserved for everybody to appreciate and enjoy. Through this Act, we’re been able to acquire the incredible Beau Street Hoard, the Timsbury Hoard, and a lovely gold posy ring from Keynsham with the phrase “a frends [sic] gift” inscribed inside the band.

Posy ring from Keynsham with close up showing the inscription

If you’re out and about and you do dig up something interesting, make sure you get in touch with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Whether it’s treasure or not, your discoveries will be photographed, identified, and recorded to help us understand more about our history and archaeology!

Zofia

Collections Assistant

Not Treasure?

Mesolithic flints from the Sacred Spring

So you’ve read last week’s blog and you don’t have treasure. What is it then? Something you have found in your garden or whilst out walking and you want to know a bit more about it? Maybe the Portable Antiquities Scheme could help?

What is the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS)?

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme to record archaeological objects found by the public in England and Wales.

What are the aims of the scheme?

1. To advance knowledge of the history and archaeology of England and Wales by systematically recording archaeological objects found by the public.

2. To raise awareness among the public of the educational value of archaeological finds in their context and facilitate research in them.

3. To increase opportunities for active public involvement in archaeology and strengthen links between metal-detector users and archaeologists.

4. To encourage all those who find archaeological objects to make them available for recording and to promote best practice by finders.

Am I legally obliged to report all my finds?

No. The Scheme is entirely voluntary. However, you must report material which constitutes Treasure, or which you believe may be Treasure (see next week’s blog).


Will the PAS take my finds from me?

No. They only want to record information about your finds.


What will I gain from reporting my finds?

Your local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) will be able to offer you:

• finds identification (either personally, or after consulting a specialist) and recording

• advice on the Treasure Act 1996

• advice on conservation and storage

The FLO will also be able to inform you of the importance of your material for the understanding of our history.

What type of archaeological finds do they record?

They would like to know about everything that you have found - not just metal objects. They record all objects made before about 1700 and are selective in recording more modern finds.

I often find worked flints and pieces of pottery as well as metal objects. Would they like to see these as well?

Yes - because these finds also provide important archaeological information.

What type of information about my finds do they want?

They would like to record details of the objects that you have found, including a detailed description, its weight and measurements. They would also hope to record where and how they were found, and photograph or draw your finds.

How long will this take?

Generally the Finds Liaison Officers prefer to borrow the finds for a time, so they can research and record them properly. You will be issued with a receipt, whilst they are in their care.

Residents of Bath and North East Somerset Residents can contact Kurt on the details below, or please click on http://finds.org.uk/contacts  to contact the local Finds Liaison Officer for other areas.

Kurt Adams
Finds Liaison Officer - Gloucestershire & Avon
Bristol City Museum, Queens Road, Bristol Queens Road Bristol Gloucestershire BS8 1RL
Work T: 0117 922 2613
E: kurt.adams@bristol.gov.uk

For more information on the subject please click on the links below:

http://finds.org.uk/treasure

http://finds.org.uk/conservation

http://finds.org.uk/database

Treasure?

Following on from last weeks blog on the Beau Street Hoard this weeks blogs discusses in brief what to do if you find something that you think might be treasure….

Coins from the hoard

Who do I contact?

Your local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) is normally the main point of contact for Treasure finds (details of your local FLO can be found at www.finds.org.uk)
You will need to provide wherever possible the equivalent of a six-figure National Grid Reference (100m2).

What objects do not qualify as treasure?

• objects whose owners can be traced

• unworked natural objects, including human and animal remains, even if they are found in association with Treasure

• objects from the foreshore which are wreckage

• single coins found on their own

• groups of coins lost one by one over a period of time

If you are in any doubt it is always safest to report your find. Your local Finds Liaison Officer will be glad to record all archaeological objects that you find.

What happens if the find is treasure?

If the institution or individual receiving the find on behalf of the Coroner believes that the find may be Treasure they will inform the British Museum or the National Museum Wales.

What if a museum wants to acquire my find?

The Coroner will hold an inquest to decide whether the find is Treasure. If the find is declared to be Treasure then it will be taken to the British Museum so that a valuation can be recommended by the Treasure Valuation Committee: this amount is what a museum will pay to acquire the find.

Who is eligible to receive a share of the reward?

• the finder who has obtained permission to be on the land from its owner, and acted in good faith

• the landowner

• the person who occupies the particular site as a tenant of the owner (unless this is precluded by the terms of the tenancy agreement)


Who is not eligible to receive a share of the reward?

• an archaeologist who makes a Treasure find

• a finder or a landowner who has acted in bad faith, and not in accordance with the Treasure Act Code

of Practice, may expect a reduced share of the valuation, or none at all

(for more on the Treasure Act follow this link http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/24/contents)


How long will it take before I receive my reward?

The period between the find being received by the Coroner and reward should not be longer than twelve months (provided no challenges are made), although it may be necessary to exceed this period in exceptional cases, such as large hoards of coins or finds that present particular difficulties.


For more information on the subject of treasure please follow this link http://finds.org.uk/treasure