Good practice
Metal detecting is about discovering history while helping to preserve it. Following good practice protects our heritage, strengthens relationships with landowners and helps ensure the hobby can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Always obtain permission from the landowner before detecting on private land.
The right equipment helps protect the land and makes recovering finds easier.
Make sure the location is suitable and legal to detect.
A little preparation makes for a safer and more enjoyable day in the field.
Recover every target with care by cutting neat plugs where appropriate, replacing them properly and leaving the ground looking as though you were never there.
Take home foil, cans, wire and other metal waste uncovered while detecting. Never leave unwanted targets beside the hole for others to find.
Follow the landowner's instructions, avoid damaging crops, keep a sensible distance from livestock and always leave gates as you found them.
Stick to the agreed areas, access routes and times. Never bring additional detectorists onto the land unless the landowner has given permission.
Some finds have archaeological importance, even if they have little financial value. Recording them helps preserve Britain's history for future generations.
If a find may qualify as Treasure, protect the location, minimise disturbance and follow the correct legal reporting process.
Cleaning too quickly can remove surfaces, markings and evidence that may help identify or date an object.
Record the date, broad location, depth and any important details about the discovery. This information can be just as valuable as the find itself.
Be polite to landowners, other detectorists and members of the public. Your actions influence how the wider hobby is viewed.
Use digging tools appropriate for the ground and avoid equipment that could cause unnecessary damage.
Understanding local history, object types and recording practices helps you make better decisions in the field.
Responsible behaviour helps maintain access to land and demonstrates the positive contribution detectorists can make.
Portable Antiquities Scheme contacts
Quickly find the Finds Liaison Officer for the area where your find was discovered. Search by county, region, museum or officer name using the directory below.
Try searching for a nearby county, region, museum or officer name.
Treasure and reporting
Clear answers to common questions about possible Treasure, reporting finds and the different rules across the UK.
Any object (not a coin) that is:
Any single prehistoric object (up to and including Iron Age) that contains gold or silver.
Two or more coins found together that are:
Ten or more coins of any metal found together that are at least 300 years old.
Hoards, groups of coins found together and ritual deposits that are thought of as part of the same find.
A single modified coin, such as a pierced or gilded coin.
Two or more prehistoric metal objects found together.
Any object found in the same place with another object that is Treasure.
This might include:
An object or group of objects made of metal that is more than 200 years old.
They must also provide exceptional insight into an aspect of national or regional archaeology, culture or history because they are:
You must report potential Treasure within 14 days of finding it, or within 14 days of realising it may be Treasure.
This legal obligation applies to everyone.
To meet this obligation, report your find to your local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) in England, or the Treasure Registry in Wales. They will report it to the Coroner on your behalf.
In England, contact your local Finds Liaison Officer. In Wales, contact your local Finds Liaison Officer or Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. They can advise whether the object may be Treasure and explain the next steps.
Under the Treasure Act 1996, all finds that meet the legal definition of Treasure belong to the Crown. They do not belong to the finder or the landowner.
If a museum chooses to acquire the find, it remains the property of the Crown until it is transferred to the museum.
If no museum wishes to acquire the find, the Crown may disclaim it, in which case it is returned to the finder or landowner.
Record the location accurately, protect the find and avoid unnecessary disturbance. Do not aggressively widen the hole or separate objects that may belong together. Follow advice from your Finds Liaison Officer or the relevant authority before carrying out further recovery.
The find will be assessed and may be examined through the formal Treasure process. A coroner determines whether it is legally Treasure. A museum may then express an interest in acquiring it, with any reward handled through the official valuation process.
Yes. Scotland uses the Treasure Trove system rather than the Treasure Act. Portable antiquities may be claimed by the Crown regardless of whether they are made from precious metal. Finds that may be archaeologically significant should be reported promptly to the Treasure Trove Unit.
Northern Ireland has additional legal restrictions. A licence is required to search for archaeological material where the search involves disturbing the ground, including metal detecting activities. Such licences are generally connected to approved archaeological projects. You can detect if you are looking for lost personal items without a licence.
No. Reporting begins an assessment process; it does not mean every object will be declared Treasure. If an item is not legally Treasure or is disclaimed under the relevant system, it can be returned in accordance with the applicable process and ownership arrangements.
Do not guess. Keep the find and its location information together, avoid damaging it and contact your local Finds Liaison Officer or the appropriate national authority. A find can be archaeologically important even when it has little financial value.
If you find what you think are human remains in the UK, leave them untouched and immediately call the police on 999 or 101. Do not move or disturb anything, as doing so can break the law and ruin a police or forensic inquiry.
