Left in the ground, ancient objects suffer constant annual damage with every pass of the plough. With the slow and inevitable corrosive action of modern agricultural fertilisers, these objects will eventually be lost forever. Fortunately metal detectorists successfully rescue and preserve thousands of objects from ruin such as corroded Roman ‘grots’ to hoards of national importance.

It is a fact that had those finds stayed in the ground to rot, vital knowledge would surely have been lost. By the same token, this very same information would equally be lost if the location of finds is not properly recorded. Happily though, modern detectorists enthusiastically and consistently have their finds recorded thereby totally invalidating any outdated viewpoints from detractors

Having your finds recorded is easy, a lot of fun and is the best way to have your things identified properly. We are pleased to invite along to our club digs a regional finds liaison officer (FLO) who will gladly assist you with the proper identification and recording of your finds and register them on the national database. You can see your records on the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) website & FLO details can be found on the Contact Others page on this site.

If you are unable to record your finds with the PAS at a dig please take all recordable finds to your local FLO for recording. These are generally all coins and artefacts pre 1700 AD however worn. Roman grots, pottery and flints are all of interest. FLOs would be grateful if finds are bagged and dig place names and dates written on the bags. Identification may be helped if you are able to gently clean the surface mud off your find before you take it to your FLO. Ideally, plot your finds with a GPS device. Sometimes finds can be recorded at later club meetings but bear in mind that FLOs are likely only to carry maps relevant to their counties. For the PAS database, contact details and conservation advice please visit www.finds.org.uk

Click on the months above to access news of the Weekend Wanderers digs and finds photographs

Photographs are constantly being added as members frequently e-mail images of their finds from previous digs & of course we need your finds too.

Please reduce your file sizes before e-mailing them and take your shots with low megapixels. Remember to add the date and place where your finds were made and say if it ok or not to include your name in the write up. Thanks!