His record is put to shame by our local history hunters. Contributors to the North and East Yorkshire Portable Antiquities Scheme have just notched up their 1,000th discovery this year.
And he is quite a discovery – a 2,000-year-old figurine of the Roman god Mercury.
Fashioned from a copper alloy, the figure of the god of merchants and travellers was found by Dave Cooper, member of the York and District Metal Detecting Club, in a field near Selby.
Rebecca Griffiths, portable antiquities finds officer at York Museums Trust, said thousands of archaeological objects were discovered by members of the public every year.
Due to the quantity and quality of these finds it was realised that, if properly recorded, these discoveries could provide an important source of material with the potential to transform our understanding of the past.
Each year Rebecca and a small team of volunteers add more than 2,000 new artefacts to the database.
– Rebecca Griffiths
The Yorkshire Museum has acquired a number of items that have been found by members of the public, many of which are currently on display. These include the Bedale Hoard, the Escrick Ring and the silver Stillingfleet boar badge of Richard III.
Yorkshire Museum, 10am-1pm
Friday, June 5
Friday, August 7
Friday, October 2
Friday, December 4
Although the 1000th find has not been acquired by a museum, the full record can be viewed here.
Found an archaeological object that you would like to find out more about? Then come along to one of the portable antiquities scheme finds days – see panel for dates.
Hello
I have a small figure (about 1″ long) like a very tiny doll, white, but don’t think it is ceramic, seems very old. If I email you a photo graph can you identify it for me.
Thanks
Jennifer Flint
Hi Jennifer. Sounds intriguing. It would be best if you emailed Rebecca direct – click on the link in the panel above.