The Scheme's database
The Portable Antiquities Scheme's database is the home for all the information collected since its inception in 1997. Within this repository, you can find details of a wide range of archaeological finds which have been recovered from disturbed contexts. This in turn leads us to the name 'portable antiquities'; these are objects that can be easily removed from situ (for example you can't easily move a Roman column, but you can do so with a Roman brooch.)
The database is there for several reasons:
- Create a textual, spatial and visual record in perpetuity of the antiquities that people discover pursuing daily affairs (sometimes it is the only chance archaeologists will get to make a record.)
- Produce data that can be used by academic researchers.
- Produce data that allows Archaeological Resource Management to be fulfilled.
- Allow free access to the text and images contained within the record for all interested parties.
A succinct statement of what the database is therefore is quite hard to produce. It exists for a multitude of activities.
Using the database
The database can seem quite daunting to use. It is an extremely complex relational database and contains a vast quantity of information. If you need help, then please either contact a member of staff at the Scheme, or have a look at the help pages on the database or the ones that are gradually being added to this site. If you want to use the database for academic research, then please contact one of our finds advisers for a discussion about your proposal (s). If you want to use the database for ARM or HER use, then please consult our data transfer page.
For more casual use of the database, for example identification of your finds, general interest or accidental stumblings; please feel free to browse the site and the content within.
If you are technologically minded, the database can offer cutting edge methods of delivering data to interested parties. If you're interested in subscribing to RSS feeds, then please contact the ICT Adviser, Dan Pett at the British Museum.
We are quite willing to answer queries relating to the database. It is now "mission critical" to the Scheme and will continue to evolve. The schedule over the next few months will include a radical overhaul of the aesthethics, the user interfaces and the numismatic core.
Database artefact cloud
The tag cloud below details all object types that are currently held within workflow stages a) validation and b) publication. If you spot any errors with identifications, please email us on info@finds.org.uk with details of the find number.
belt fitting brooch Button and loop fastener musket ball ABACUS ADZE Aeroplane aestel AGRICULTURE AND SUBSISTENCE Altar ALTAR VESSEL Altarpiece ALUDEL AMMUNITION AMPHORA AMPULLA AMULET Anchor ANIMAL COLLAR ANIMAL EQUIPMENT ANIMAL REMAINS ANNULAR BROOCH Annular ring Anthropomorphic Mount ANVIL Apothecary Weight Applied head, ceramic AQUAMANILE ARCHITECTURAL architectural element ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT ARM BAND ARM GUARD arm-ring ARMLET ARMOUR ARMOUR AND WEAPONS ARROW ARROW STRAIGHTENER ARROWHEAD astrolabe AUGER AWL Axe axe hammer AXEHEAD axehead roughout BACKED BLADE BACKED BLADELET backplate BADGE BAG BALANCE Balance Weight BALDRIC Ball BALL (GAME) Ballista Ball Bar BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD barrel BARREL PADLOCK BARREL PADLOCK KEY Barrel tap basket ornaments Bawdy Object BEAD BEAKER BEEHIVE QUERN BELL Bell pull BELLOWS BELT Belt Attachment Belt Clasp Belt Fitting belt hook Belt Loop Belt Mount Belt Plate Belt Slide Belt/Strap Hooked Fitting binding strip BIRD CAGE BIRD FEEDER BLADE Blade core BLADELET Blades Blades (Two) Boat BODKIN BOLT (FASTENING) BOLT (LOCK) Bolthead Bone Object Bone Pottery stamp BOOK Book clasp Book cover BOOK FITTING Book Mount BORER boss BOTTLE bottle seal BOW BROOCH Bow Strengthener BOWL bowl fragment BOX Box fitting Box Handle Box Lid box mount BOX PADLOCK KEY BRACELET bracket BRACTEATE BRASS BRICK BRIDLE BRIDLE BIT Bridle Boss BRIDLE FITTING BRIQUETAGE BROCKAGE BROOCH Brooch (or Mount) brooch fragment BROOCH PIN brooch/buckle Brooch? Broom brush BUCKET bucket handle BUCKLE Buckle Chape BUCKLE Frame buckle pin Buckle plate Buckle with Swivel Building material Building stone BULL BULLA BULLET BULLET MOULD BURIN Burnisher BURNT FLINT BUST BUTTON BUTTON AND LOOP FASTENER Button Cover buzz disc Calendar CALLIPERS caltrop CAME candelabrum candle CANDLE HOLDER CANDLE SNUFFER Candle snuffers CANDLESTICK CANISTER (FOOD) CANISTER (SHOT) cannon CANNON BALL Cap cap fragment Capsule CART FITTING CARVED STONE CARVING CASKET Casket fitting Casket hinge Casket mount CAST Casting Counter casting gate casting sprue CASTING WASTE CATCH CAULDRON Cauldron foot CELTIC HEAD CENSER ceramic Ceramic Building Material Ceremonial object CHAFING DISH CHAIN CHALICE CHAMBER POT chandelier Chape Charger CHARIOT FITTING CHATELAINE Cheek piece cheekpiece CHEESE PRESS Cheese Scoop chess piece Chimney Chimney Pot CHISEL chopper CLAMP CLASP Clay pipe CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) Clay tobacco pipe cleaver CLIP CLOCK CLOG clog clasp CLOTH SEAL Cloth seals Clothes fastener Clothes Hook Clothing Clothing Fastening CLOTHING ACCESSORY CLOTHING FASTENING Clothing hook Clothing tag Cockspur Coffin COG COIN coin blank COIN DIE COIN HOARD Coin pendant COIN WEIGHT COINS COLANDER COMB COMBINATION TOOL Commemorative Plaque COMPASS compasses Connector CONTAINER CONTAINER
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