How to Search for Archaeological Finds on finds.org.uk

You can search the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) database at finds.org.uk in two main ways: a keyword search from the homepage, or an advanced search that lets you narrow results by criteria such as find ID, date range, and area. Both are free to use and open to anyone; you only need to register as a member if you want to record finds or use member features. The site covers archaeological finds discovered by the public in England and Wales, and is run from the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru.

Start with the homepage search

The homepage carries a single search box labelled "Keyword" with an "Apply" button, plus a link to "Advanced search".

1. Type a term into the Keyword box — for example an object type ("brooch", "coin", "arrowhead"), a period ("Medieval", "Bronze Age"), or a find ID if you already have one.
2. Select Apply to run the search.
3. If the results are too broad or too narrow, switch to Advanced search to add filters.

Use advanced search to filter results

Advanced search is the better route when you know roughly what you are looking for but not the exact record. The filters that matter most for browsing the database are:

• Find ID — the PAS record reference, which follows a prefix-plus-number pattern (for example BERK-A239D9). The prefix identifies the recording scheme or county, so a find ID is the fastest way to jump straight to a known record.
• Date range — expressed as a start and end year, sometimes spanning BC to AD (for example 2400 BC - 1500 BC for a Bronze Age arrowhead).
• Area — the historic county or region where the find was made, such as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, or Wales.

Combining these lets you answer questions like "show me all Medieval brooches recorded in Somerset" without scrolling through unrelated records.

What each record tells you

Every PAS record is built around a consistent set of fields, so once you can read one record you can read them all. The featured finds on the homepage show the pattern clearly:

The object type and period together are usually enough to judge whether a record is relevant. The date range refines that, and the area tells you the findspot at county level.

Browse featured finds for examples

If you are new to the database, the featured finds section on the homepage is a useful orientation. It shows a rotating sample of records across periods and object types — for instance a Medieval brooch from Berkshire, a Bronze Age arrowhead from Cheshire, an Iron Age vessel from the Isle of Wight, and a Post-medieval hoard from Staffordshire. Reading a few of these gives you a feel for how records are worded and dated before you run your own searches.

Guides if you want to go further

The site also publishes PAS guides, grouped into:

• How to use this site — site guides for registered members.
• Detecting guidance — guidance aimed at finders.
• Treasure — how to identify, report, and manage Treasure finds in England and Wales.
• 'How to' guides for recorders — practical recording skills such as photographing and editing images of finds, plotting grid references with maps and GPS, and writing a good object description for a PAS record.

These are worth checking if your interest moves from searching the database to contributing to it.