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July 20, 2007

Treasure Law in Great Britain


Contents of the Harrogate Hoard vessel
Originally uploaded by portableantiquities.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme has a blog!

Somehow I'd missed it. Needless to say they're pleased with yesterday's media blitz about the Viking hoard; as they point out it is National Archaeology Week in Great Britain, so the announcement was well-timed. Here's their version, which has at least two other views.

Best of all, they have a flickr stream! That's where this picture comes from.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a way of working on the relationship between scholars and metal detectorists - and the Harrogate Hoard is an excellent example of what can go right. Their piece ends with some notes for editors, including these:

6 All finders of gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same finds, over 300 years old, have a legal obligation to report such items under the Treasure Act 1996. Prehistoric base-metal assemblages found after 1st January 2003 also qualify as Treasure. Treasure finds must be reported by law to the local coroner, which is normally done through the finders local PAS Finds Liaison Officer. More information is available on www.culture.gov.uk or www.finds.org.uk

7 The Portable Antiquities Scheme has a national network of 36 Finds Liaison Officers who record all archaeological finds made by members of the public and assist with the reporting of potential Treasure finds, as required by the Treasure Act. The Scheme is run by the BM on behalf of MLA. The online database, www.finds.org.uk, contains details over 280,000 objects

Posted by CrankyProfessor at July 20, 2007 7:03 AM