The Suffolk Finds Recording Team is part of the County Council’s Archaeological Service and the national Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS).
We work closely with individuals, local societies, and metal detecting clubs to identify and record archaeological objects found by members of the public in the county. Since 1997, over 165,000 objects spanning all periods of history have been recorded by the Suffolk Finds Recording Team, with about 6,000 finds recorded every year.
Finds recorded in Suffolk help to advance our knowledge of the history and archaeology of our county. They are also a valuable resource for research and many important sites in Suffolk would otherwise have remained undiscovered without such information.
What we record?
Image: assortment of artefacts found in Suffolk
We would like to know about any manmade objects that you have found, whatever they are made of, and we will usually record objects made before 1600 AD.
Even if you are unsure about what the object might be, we can help you identify it and advise you.
If you have found something and would like it to be identified and recorded, please get in touch.
Contact us on 01284 741230 or by e-mail at sccasfinds@suffolk.gov.uk
Members of the public are now able to collect and deliver finds to the Finds Recording Team by appointment only, please phone or e-mail to arrange an appointment and for any other enquiries.
Please see the current government advice on searching for archaeological finds (with a metal detector, field-walking or mudlarking) in England.
Image: Anglo-Saxon silver disc brooch found in Suffolk
The Recording Process
We will borrow your object to create a detailed record and then return it to you. These records are added to the online Portable Antiquities Scheme database
Please tell us where and how the object was found. We suggest that finders provide an exact findspot for their finds, preferably using a GPS device, although we can use paper and digital mapping if necessary. On the online PAS database personal data is not visible and findspot information recorded by the Suffolk Finds Recording Team is not identified more precisely than parish.
Records include a description, weight and measurement. Many objects are also photographed and drawn by our in-house illustrator. Once this has been completed your object will be returned to you, along with printed reports and copies of any illustrations.
FAQs
find out more about the finds recording process on the Portable Antiquities Scheme website
finds.org.uk »Supported by:
The national Portable Antiquities Scheme, which is largely funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and is administered by the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British museum.
