What is finds.org.uk (Portable Antiquities Scheme)?

finds.org.uk is the official website of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), a programme that records archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. It is run from the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales), and its tagline is "Your finds, our history." If you have found an archaeological object in England or Wales and want to know what it is, get it recorded, or search what others have found, this is the site to use.

What the site is for

The PAS exists to record small archaeological finds made by the public — typically by metal-detector users, but also by people who come across objects while walking, gardening, or working. Recording these finds creates a permanent, publicly searchable record that contributes to archaeological knowledge.

The site serves two broad audiences:

• Finders who want to report an object, learn how to record it properly, or understand the rules around Treasure.
• Researchers and the curious who want to search the database of recorded finds by object type, date, or location.

What you can do on finds.org.uk

Search the finds database

The homepage features a search box with an Advanced search option. Recorded finds are listed with a Find ID, object type, date range, and area. Examples from the homepage include:

Each Find ID is a unique reference you can use to look up the full record.

Use the user guides

The site hosts a set of PAS guides covering:

• How to use the site — for registered members who want to get the most out of finds.org.uk.
• Detecting guidance — practical guidance for finders.
• Treasure guidance — how to identify, report, and manage Treasure finds in England and Wales.
• "How to" guides for recorders — including taking and editing photographs of finds, plotting grid references using maps and GPS, and writing good object descriptions for a PAS record.

Who runs it and why it matters

The Scheme is supported by the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru. Because records are made publicly available, a single find reported by one person can be studied by archaeologists, historians, and other finders. The database is one of the main ways small archaeological finds from England and Wales enter the public record.

When to use it

• You found an object and want to know whether it qualifies as Treasure.
• You want to record a find so it becomes part of the archaeological record.
• You want to check whether similar objects have been found in your area.
• You need guidance on photographing, describing, or locating a find before reporting it.

If your find was made outside England or Wales, this Scheme does not cover it — PAS records finds from those two countries only.