50 Finds

Roman coinage represents the largest single category of object recorded through the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), with over 300,000 single finds in addition to several thousand hoards. This dataset, unparalleled anywhere else in the world, provides a unique perspective on the province of Roman Britain and its interaction with the larger Roman Empire. By exploring 50 key finds of Roman coinage it is possible to shed light on all aspects of Roman Britain from the conquest in AD 43 through to the Roman withdrawal by c. AD 410. Unusually for a Roman numismatic dataset, the PAS examples provide wide coverage of the entire province, revealing evidence for early military activity, the development of the rural landscape, as well as the socio-political and cultural evolution of the province. Approaching the material thematically, it will be possible to examine key elements of Roman Britain such as religion, the economy, British 'identity', the 'Britannic Empire', and the archaeological application or implications of the PAS data. Dr Andrew Brown is Deputy National Finds Advisor for Iron Age and Roman coinage at the Portable Antiquities Scheme/British Museum.

From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Battle of Hastings, the early medieval period is one of our most engaging historical eras. It covers the formation of the kingdoms and countries of Britain, the establishment of Christianity, Viking invaders and semi-mythical monarchs. Sometimes mischaracterised as the 'Dark Ages', it was in fact a time of tremendous advances in art, technology and trade. The fifty objects in this book are some of the most important and interesting archaeological finds illuminating this span of history. They include weaponry, horse fittings, hacksilver hoards and jewellery featuring the sinuous knotwork of the period's animal art, from the humblest of pins and brooches to the gold and garnet wonders of the Staffordshire Hoard. Each was found by a member of the public and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which has recorded over 1.5 million items in England and Wales. Through these objects and their stories, we can understand this fascinating and perhaps most misunderstood period of history.

The many artefacts discovered by members of the public and recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) provide an unparalleled resource for information relating to childhood in the past. The fifty objects presented here have been selected from across England and Wales; they span prehistory through to the modern age and include items both of national significance and those of everyday use. This unique and diverse collection by the PAS illustrates a variety of beliefs around childhood, including activities relating to childbirth, infant care, clothing, work and play. Each object, whether made for children or adapted by them, has been chosen to explore past expectations towards children and their relationships with the wider world. Collectively, these artefacts provide an insight into, and a connection with, childhood across the ages, much of which still has relevance today.

British Bronze Age artefacts made from copper, bronze, gold, flint, jet and shale are renowned throughout Europe for their beauty and exquisite craftsmanship. In England and Wales, many new discoveries are made each year by members of the public and recorded with the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme. Recent nationally important finds include the gold lunula from Tarrant Valley (Dorset) and the gold and silver striped penannular ring from Havant (Hampshire). The metalwork hoard from Boughton Malherbe (Kent) is the third largest metalwork hoard ever discovered in Britain.Here, Dot Boughton investigates finds and hoards discovered over the last twenty years and uses them to discuss the development of the different Bronze Age weapon, tool, vessel and ornament types from their humble origins to their individual peaks in the Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age.

Hemmed in by river, downland and sea, the archaeology of Kent has always had a reputation for uniqueness. So, when the Portable Antiquities Scheme, an initiative to record objects found by members of the public, was launched in 1997, Kent was the obvious choice to become a pilot county. It did not disappoint. Kent has so far produced finds such the headline-grabbing, solid gold Ringlemere cup, a unique Roman Republican helmet –the only one ever found in Britain – and several Anglo-Saxon garnet-inlaid brooches. Not to mention the anonymous, wide scatterings of pot sherds, buckles, occasional lost keys and swathes of often indecipherable coins. Telling the history of Kent through its objects, every find in this book was discovered by a member of the public and recorded by the PAS. Each one helps us fit together a bigger, clearer picture of Kent's history, its people and relationship with the wider world.

50 Roman Finds From the Portable Antiquities Scheme highlights some of the most important and interesting Roman objects recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) or reported as Treasure. It features a wide variety of objects, allowing for a balanced presentation of both well-preserved everyday objects and some of the most spectacular finds to have been recorded by the PAS. Iconic objects featured here include the Crosby Garrett helmet and the Ilam pan. Collectively, the fifty examples featured here exemplify the cosmopolitan culture of the Roman world and help shed further light on a fascinating period of British history.

Since 1997 the Portable Antiquities Scheme has recorded almost 1.5 million objects found in England and Wales, the vast majority discovered by members of the public rather than professional archaeologists. Among these finds are more than 10,000 early medieval coins. Each one of these coins has its own story to tell, from its minting, use and loss through to its eventual recovery and recording. In this book, Dr John Naylor, the PAS's National Finds Adviser for Early Medieval and Later Coinage, explores the Anglo-Saxon world through these coin finds, tracing the development of coinage from the end of Roman Britain to the Norman Conquest of 1066 and how they were used by early medieval people. As well as their use in trading, he shows how they can help us to understand how the Anglo-Saxons saw themselves through looking at coin design and iconography, and how they were used in diverse and interesting ways such as their inclusion in burials and hoards, and their re-use as items of jewellery.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in 2018, and has been operating in Buckinghamshire since 2003 when the scheme went national. Today the scheme runs in England and Wales, with thirty-nine Finds Liaison Officers recording objects discovered by members of the public. Working with local archaeology finders, including metal detectorists, this has allowed for both the discovery of new significant objects and sites across the country. This is a unique scheme, allowing anyone to add to the archaeological record, which in turn has helped research projects using the database to discover more about our heritage. The scheme in Buckinghamshire has recorded a wealth of discoveries, from the everyday objects that showcase the history and life in the area, its industry and creativity, to the more unusual such as the recent discovery of the Lenborough Hoard. These objects hold the stories of the past, and can tell us about the way of life of the ordinary people. The book will examine life from prehistory to the more recent, as well as the movement of the people and their belongings.

- Latest in popular series - Published with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, who are tied to the British Museum - Finds from across the country

Somerset has a varied landscape, from upland Exmoor to the low-lying wetland levels and moors, and the mineral rich Mendips to the agricultural land of South Somerset. This diversity has shaped, and been shaped by, our predecessors – millions of people who have lived and worked in the area. Often, the only traces of these people's lives are the small objects they left behind, from the stone tools of prehistoric people to the remains of Roman trade and fashions and medieval and post-medieval objects reflecting prosperity and conflict. In recent years the Portable Antiquities Scheme has recorded thousands of objects found by members of the public and these have helped to enhance, and often reshape, our knowledge of the past. Discoveries by members of the public have brought new sites to light and have led to further research and understanding. This book publishes many of these new discoveries for the first time in an accessible way.

Objects dropped by our ancestors can tell us a lot about the past and the landscape in which they were lost or deposited. Many finds, notably those made by metal-detector users, have been recorded throughout Surrey since 2003 by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which is based at the British Museum. The present county of Surrey covers bands of different geological strata, such as clay and chalk, and sand and gravel. These have influenced the activities of past peoples, and where they lived and worked – and also where they mostly avoided. By looking at objects discovered in Surrey, and by recording where they were found, we can understand these activities better and begin to see ancient peoples as they moved through landscapes familiar to us today. Surrey has revealed its past to us through finds of flint implements; through axes, hoards and ingots from the Bronze Age; through Iron Age and Roman coins and figurines, and through items lost in other historical periods, such as buckles and brooches, seals and rings, weights and harness attachments. Using recent discoveries of archaeological objects, 50 Finds from Surrey allows us to glimpse into a hidden past that is all around us.

Home to the first recorded town in Britain, Essex has a vast wealth of history. However, historical accounts of the county have tended to focus on the major settlements and have left large parts unexplored. Through the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), alongside continuing professional excavations, it has been possible to fill in those gaps. Not only have there been many objects recorded with the PAS that are individually significant, but recording these finds has allowed us to identify many new archaeological sites that had previously been unrecognised.From Bronze Age hoards to Medieval pilgrim badges, the PAS records for Essex cover every period in history. The Burnham-on-Crouch hoard provides insight into the burial of objects in the Late Bronze Age, while the Ardleigh pommel highlights the incredible skill of Anglo-Saxon goldsmiths. The work of the PAS also provides evidence of how people continue to deposit objects today. Some of these finds have improved our understanding of society in the past, while others can be admired for their beauty alone. 50 Finds from Essex showcases a select group of objects recorded with the PAS and explains their significance within our wider understanding of the archaeology of Essex.

The objects of our ancestors can tell us a lot about the past, from what was happening with the economy and changes in fashion to where people traded, lived and worked. Through them, we can discover the story of everyday people who don't appear in documentary accounts. The North West is traditionally seen as devoid of archaeology; however, through the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme alongside more recent traditional archaeological investigations, this view is changing. By looking at objects discovered in Cheshire, recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, we can re-evaluate our knowledge of the past within the county. Cheshire has revealed its past to us through axes from the Bronze Age, Roman hoards, Viking silver, Medieval and Post-medieval jewellery. Within the past few years, three important Roman hoards have been discovered in the county demonstrating that Romanisation took hold. The impressive Huxley hoard brings us into the Early Medieval period. A variety of both functional and decorative objects tells us more about the people who lived and worked throughout our communities. 50 Finds from Cheshire allows us to look at snapshots of our past using archaeological finds to illuminate what has previously been hidden from us.