Research
The Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure is at the
centre of research into archaeological finds in England and Wales
from the last ten years. Staff also work with colleagues in other
Museum departments to study, analyse and conserve treasure
finds.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) database
of finds from England and Wales is the basis of the department’s
research work.
It is now a living resource, constantly
updated by departmental staff with several hundred new objects each
day. The objects recorded by the scheme, are known as "portable
antiquities" and are found by members of the public. These objects
range from the Palaeolithic to around the eighteenth Century.
Research projects
Staff from the department are engaged in a
number of research projects, as well as working on the Portable
Antiquities Scheme database itself.
Publications
Every year the department publishes the Annual
Reports of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act.
The PAS report details the work of the scheme in that
year and provides information about the finds recorded. The
Treasure report lists all finds reported as Treasure during
the previous year.
Both can be downloaded or ordered from the
Portable Antiquities
Scheme website