The Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure is at the centre of research into archaeological finds in England and Wales from the last ten years. Staff also work with colleagues in other Museum departments to study, analyse and conserve treasure finds.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) database of finds from England and Wales is the basis of the department’s research work.
It is now a living resource, constantly updated by departmental staff with several hundred new objects each day. The objects recorded by the scheme, are known as "portable antiquities" and are found by members of the public. These objects range from the Palaeolithic to around the eighteenth Century.
Staff from the department are engaged in a number of research projects, as well as working on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database itself.
Every year the department publishes the Annual Reports of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act. The PAS report details the work of the scheme in that year and provides information about the finds recorded. The Treasure report lists all finds reported as Treasure during the previous year.
Both can be downloaded or ordered from the Portable Antiquities Scheme website