Books in the 50 Finds series

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.