Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS)

The Northamptonshire Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) was established in February 1999 and is part of a national scheme which allows members of the public to have their finds identified and archaeologically recorded.

The information gained from members of the public recording objects with the PAS helps towards research and a greater understanding of the heritage of the county and country as a whole.

Recording most archaeological finds with the PAS is entirely voluntary, although finders of items of treasure have a legal obligation to report such finds within 14 days of their discovery.

How to record your find

The Northamptonshire Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) will be happy to record and identify your archaeological finds (those of more than 300 years of age), whether they were found in Northamptonshire or elsewhere in the country.

The FLO will take the findings in for examination and detailed recording, for which you will receive a receipt as it is not possible to record finds on the spot.

You can meet the Northamptonshire FLO and bring your finds to surgeries held around the county. For more information, email [email protected].

Treasure

Treasure includes, but is not limited to:

• all objects that are over 300 years old that have a precious metal content of 10% or more
• collections of 2 or more prehistoric metal objects from the same find spot which constitute a hoard
• collections of 2 or more gold or silver coins
• 10 or more base metal coins from the same find spot

If you have a find that you think might be treasure, please email the Finds Liaison Officer at [email protected].

Last updated 02 May 2023