The British Museum announced today that 2024 was a record year for archeological discoveries made in the UK by members of the public, with 79,616 finds recorded. Of those, 1540 were “treasure” as defined by the UK’s 1996 Treasure Act, the highest number ever recorded for a single year. The announcement was first reported by the Independent.
According to the British Museum, 2024 was the third consecutive record-breaking year, with numbers steadily increasing each year. Ninety-four percent of the discoveries were made by metal detectorists, reflecting the hobby’s increasing popularity in the UK.
The figures come from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), a project jointly managed by the British Museum in England and Amgueddfa Cymru–Museums Wales in Wales, and the Treasure Act 1996, which is administered by the British Museum.
The PAS was founded in response to the growth of metal detecting as a pastime, and in the context of the Treasure Act 1996, which came into force in 1997. While the act provided new protections for archeological finds, there was a concern that it did not cover many significant discoveries, especially those not made of precious metals. The PAS offers a way for members of the public in England and Wales to record their finds, which it makes available on its online database.
Each year, thousands of archeological objects are unearthed in the UK by ordinary citizens. Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders have a legal obligation to report all discoveries that might be potential Treasure to their local coroner. The PAS provides guidance on the process, while the Act allows museums to acquire any items designated as Treasure. In such cases, a reward is paid to be shared equally by finder and landowner.
At the launch of the annual report for the PAS and Treasure, the British Museum displayed some of the top discoveries of 2024. They included a hoard of silver pennies from Harold II’s reign, probably buried around the time of the Norwegian invasion of England in 1066; a Roman vehicle fitting, featuring a panther resting its paws on a severed human head, from about 43–200 AD; and a group of early medieval objects, including a gold and silver bird’s head inlaid with ivory, possibly from the burial of a high-status individual.
Ian Richardson, Acting Head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum, said in the museum’s statement, “The continued rise in the number of finds reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme is a testament to the dedication of finders across the country. Their responsible reporting allows us to build a richer and more detailed picture of life in the past, while ensuring that important objects are preserved for public benefit.”
