2024 Was a Record Year for Archeological Finds Made by UK Citizens

The British Museum announced today that 2024 was a record year for public archaeological discoveries in the UK, with a total of 79,616 archaeological finds recorded. Of these, 1,540 are “treasures” as defined by the UK’s Wealth Act 1996, the highest number in a single year on record. The announcement was first made by independent.

According to the British Museum, 2024 marks the third year in a row that the record has been broken, with the numbers steadily increasing each year. Ninety-four per cent of finds were made by metal detectors, reflecting the hobby’s growing popularity in the UK.

The figures come from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), a project jointly managed by the British Museum in England and Amgueddfa Cymru Museum in Wales, and the Treasure Act 1996, which is managed by the British Museum.

PAS was established in response to the growth of metal detecting as a pastime and in the context of the Treasure Act 1996 (which came into force in 1997). While the bill provides new protections for archaeological finds, there are concerns that it does not cover many major finds, especially those of non-precious metals. PAS provides a way for the public in England and Wales to record their findings and publish them in its online database.

Every year, thousands of archaeological items are unearthed by ordinary citizens in the UK. Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders are legally obliged to report all discoveries of possible treasure to the local coroner. The PAS provides guidance on the process, while the Act allows museums to acquire any item designated as a “treasure”. In this case, the reward will be shared equally between the discoverer and the landowner.

The British Museum has revealed some of the top finds of 2024 as it publishes its annual report on Islam and treasures. These include a collection of silver pennies from the reign of Harold II, probably buried around the time of the Norse invasion of England in 1066; a Roman vehicle fitting from about AD 43-200, in which a panther rests its talon on a severed human head; and a group of early medieval objects, including a gold and silver bird’s head inlaid with ivory, possibly from the burial of a high-status person.

Ian Richardson, Acting Director of Portable Antiquities and Treasures at the British Museum, said in a statement from the museum: “The continued increase in the number of finds reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme is testament to the dedication of finders across the country. Their responsible reporting allows us to build a richer and more detailed picture of life in the past, while ensuring that important objects are preserved for the public benefit.”