According to a report, the discovery of a medieval pendant with a harness in Lincolnshire was the 1,000,000th archaeological find made by the public since 25 years ago when the Treasure Act became effective.
This copper-alloy pendant dates back between 1350 and 1400. It was discovered in a Lincolnshire field by an unknown person in October.
In 1997, the PAS was established. It allowed Britons document their findings in one central database.
The Treasure Act was in force a year prior. According to the Act, treasure-hunters are required to notify the coroner of their findings within 14 days.
According to the report, nearly 50,000 discoveries were made last year.
More than 1,077 of these were treasure finders. These numbers are smaller than those of previous years, however, because there were fewer opportunities for Britain’s estimated 20,000 metal detectorists in the area to search.
At the British Museum’s launch, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, the Arts Minister, thanked the members of the public for giving up their rights to rewards and allowing museums to obtain valuable historical items free of charge.
According to a report, the discovery of a medieval pendant with a harness in Lincolnshire was the 1,000,000th archaeological find made by the public since 1997. In October, the copper-alloy pendant was discovered in a Lincolnshire field. It dates back between 1350 and 1400.
He stated that people often focus on rewards but not the generosity of others. I’d like to express my gratitude to landowners and finders.
The report said that nearly 1000 gold Iron Age coins from Essex were among the treasures found. Also, a copper-alloy, silver, early medieval disc brooch was discovered in Cheddar (Stater).
East Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk were the counties with the highest number of PAS findings in 2020.
The areas with the highest Treasure Reports were reported in the same year as last: Norfolk, Hampshire (104), and Suffolk (57).
Since May, 54 people have ‘waived” their right to reward. This means that a museum can acquire the treasure for free.
They included the landowner who discovered a Bronze Age-style gold bracelet from Brigg in north Lincolnshire and the Roman gold fitting from near Sandwich in Kent. Both the landowner and the finder waived their rights to a reward.
Nearly 91% of the last year’s discoveries were made by detectorists.
Staffordshire Hoard was discovered first in 2009 and is the most significant discovery over the past 25-years. This hoard is comprised of Anglo-Saxon Gold and Silver.
Out of over 1million artifacts that have been recorded by PAS so far, only 16,000 have been classified as treasure.
Lord Parkinson, who launched the Treasure Act’s 25th Anniversary, said that it was an exciting time to be a treasure hunter.
To the delight of the British Museum director, the report disclosed that the discovery of a medieval pendant was the 1,000,000th archeological find made by the public.
Today was also the launch of Treasure Annual Report 2019.
Hartwig Fischer, British Museum director, said that she was thrilled to reach the one-million mark. Every record has been logged onto the PAS database and discovered by the general public.
“2020 was extremely challenging for us all, but thanks to the PAS’ online database, national partnerships and hard work of its staff the PAS was able adapt to the situation. The PAS recorded almost 50,000 treasure finds, as well as processing more than 1,000 cases.
According to the report, there were fewer discoveries last year than in previous years due to the fact that metal detectorists (who made 91% of all the discoveries) had limited opportunities to record their findings. This was because of lockdowns and pandemic impact.
Hollingbourne, Kent found a matrix of silver seals dating back to the beginning 13th centuries inscribed by Matilda de Cornhill. It was located in June 2018.
Roman coins were found in three pots in Wickwar, Gloucestershire. Mark Wilcox, a metal detectorist, and Mark Lovell discovered that the coins were buried under the earth. They also helped conservation workers uncover more than 6500 coins from the previously undiscovered Roman site.
East Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk had the highest PAS find rates in 2020, with 5,584 found, 5,206, and 4,048, respectively. For the same year the regions where the greatest Treasure was reported included Norfolk (104), Hampshire (71) & Suffolk (57).
Another table revealed that 2020’s treasure haul is lower than 2018, but was still higher than it was in 2018.
A gold cross pendant in the form of a runic inscribed in Berwick-upon-Tweed is also included in these finds. Three Roman coins were found in Wickwar in Gloucestershire.
Mark Lovell, a metal detectorist, and Mark Wilcox, a conservationist, discovered coins in the ground. Conservation work revealed more than 6,500 coins that date back to the fourth century AD, which was previously unknown at the Roman site.
The 56-year old Mr Wilcox told PA News Agency that it was the largest find they had ever made. The first time we looked at the X-ray, we found some loose coins. I then lifted up the seven-kilo container. But we didn’t realize what it contained until that moment.
Lovell (56), said that she was both shocked and elated at the same moment.
A silver seal matrix dating to the early 13th century inscribed with the name Matilda de Cornhill was discovered in Hollingbourne, Kent.
A gold cross pendant in the form of a runic inscription was also found amongst the finds. The item is thought to be between 700-900AD. It was discovered in June of last year.
The wife of Reginald de Cornhill High Sheriff of Kent, Constable at Rochester Castle is believed to have owned it.
PAS funding comes from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport grant-in-aid. The scheme is hosted by Amgueddfa Cymru, National Museum Wales, and managed by British Museum.
Michael Lewis from the British Museum’s treasure and head of PAS, Michael Lewis said, “It is important that we acknowledge the positive contribution made to the country by metal detectorists, and other public finders throughout the country.
“No matter what size or how broken down, all finds belong to the big jigsaw puzzle we have in our history.”
1996 TREASURE ACT
Pictured: A treasure was found (stock photo)
According to the 1996 Treasure Act of the UK, treasure-hunters are required to notify the coroner of their findings within 14 days.
British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme assists treasure-seekers with their legal obligations. They also write reports for coroners about each discovery and manage the Treasure disclamation process administration.
The Treasure Act facilitates the purchasing of finds by both national and local museums for the public benefit — with a reward from such typically given and split between the finder and the landowner.
After consulting an impartial panel called the “Treasure Valuation Committee”, the Secretary of State determines that the size of the reward is equal to the market value of any finds.
The act also helps to guide what is and isn’t considered as treasure — with the final determination for individual items made at an inquest.
The following are, at the moment, considered treasures.
- Findings of at least two coins of 300 or older from the same place, except if the finds contain less than 10 percent gold or silver. In which case, the treasure must have at least 10.
- Two or more prehistoric base metal objects found in association.
- Non-coin artifacts that are at least 300 years of age and contain at least 10% gold or silver.
- Any item found at the same spot as another treasure.
- Hidden objects that have been deliberately hidden and whose owners or heirs remain unknown. They are under 300 years of age, but are primarily made from gold or silver.
However, following a public consultation last year, a new definition is to be developed in the future — one which will account for the cultural and historical significance of a find, rather than just its material qualities.