Bøker i 50 Finds-serien

Angie Bolton explores fifty of Warwickshire's most fascinating finds and artefacts recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Explores 50 of Surrey's most fascinating finds.

Delving into the Portable Antiquities Scheme archives to explore 50 finds from Britain's Roman history.

A range of fascinating archaeological finds from the portable antiquities scheme, this time in Worcestershire.

Archaeology is about understanding people in the past from what they have left behind. Objects inform us about how people lived, what they made and what they were used for. There has often been a view that there are no archaeological finds in the north-west. However, through the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the display of existing museum collections, this traditional view is being challenged. By looking at objects discovered in Cumbria, and recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, we can discover and demonstrate the continuity of activity within this county. Cumbria has revealed the longevity of its past through a range of both functional and decorative objects. Objects were made and traded from the Copper Age, through the Bronze Age and into the Iron Age and Roman periods; further objects show Early Medieval activity and Post-Medieval artefacts reveal long journeys of religious pilgrimage and persecution. 50 Finds from Cumbria invites us to look at the continuity of our past using intriguing archaeological finds to illustrate what has previously been hidden away.

Anni byard explores some of the wonderful and fascinating objects to have been found in Oxfordshire.

Fifty fascinating archaeological finds from Staffordshire covering a range of periods including Roman and Medieval.

Richard Henry explores fifty of Wiltshire's most fascinating finds.

Yorkshire has been at the heart of English history for over 2,000 years and has been shaped by Roman and Viking invaders, the conflict of the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil Wars. With such a wealth of heritage to uncover, 50 Finds from Yorkshire considers the spectacular and the everyday finds that help to illuminate Yorkshire's hidden past. Objects found by the public, and recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, have produced some of the most important discoveries from the region in recent times. These finds have helped to refine our understanding of Yorkshire's history and the lives of the people who lived there. Ranging from spectacular hoards of silver buried by the Vikings to unique Celtic fittings which show that people in Yorkshire had their own style, these finds can be woven into the narrative of the past. They also get us closer than ever to the ordinary people, with seals naming individuals and trader's tokens identifying occupations. There are also tantalising glimpses of the Roman cult of Mithras active in rural Yorkshire. Every object found is another thread in the rich tapestry that is the history of Yorkshire. 50 Finds from Yorkshire highlights these amazing discoveries and explores how they help to define our understanding of one of the most significant areas of Britain.

Greater Manchester and Merseyside are built-up, urban areas, where the archaeology is often hidden under modern buildings and developments. There are also rural pockets of land and open spaces where coins and objects that were lost in the past are brought back to the surface by the plough. These finds are often rediscovered by metal detectorists, field walkers, or simply by chance. The objects then make their way to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, where they are recorded and plotted in order to help us understand more about our past. The Roman fort at Manchester, the ancient trading port of Meols in Wirral, and the more recent industrial past all play a part in our shared heritage. Objects lost by those who lived and worked in the region add to our knowledge of this rich and diverse landscape. Neolithic polished stone axes, Early Medieval inscribed stones, coins and jewellery reveal how local people lived and worked. Metalwork from the Bronze Age to the Post-Medieval period unravels the secrets of areas from the economy, technology and trade to fashion. 50 Finds from Manchester and Merseyside allows us to dip into our fascinating history using the objects lost by our ancestors as our guide.

Archaeology is understanding people in the past from what they have left behind. Objects inform us about how people lived, what they made and the things they did. There has often been a view that there are no archaeological finds in the North West. However, through the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the display of existing museum collections, this traditional view is being challenged. By looking at objects discovered in Lancashire, recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, we can demonstrate the continuity of activity within this county. Lancashire has revealed the longevity of its past through a range of both functional and decorative objects. Objects were made and traded from the Copper Age, through the Bronze Age and into the Iron Age and Roman periods; the Silverdale Viking Hoard, similar in object types and period to the Cuerdale Hoard, further demonstrates significant Early Medieval activity. Meanwhile, Post-Medieval artefacts reveal long journeys of religious pilgrimage and persecution. 50 Finds from Lancashire allows us to look at the continuity of our past using archaeological finds to illustrate what has previously been hidden away.

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.