It has been announced that the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a highly successful project for public reporting of archaeological finds from England and Wales, is to have its funding cut as part of this year’s government spending review.
The story is covered in the forthcoming edition of British Archaeology, and Colin Renfrew has an opinion piece that details the Scheme’s archaeological and social value in today’s Guardian.
An E-Petition has been set up (for British citizens), and more information is available at ourpasthistory.com.
It seems total madness to scrap the PAS. This is an important, some would say essential resource for documenting the multitude of artefacts found in England and Wales each year. Whatever reservations people might have about the Treasure Act, the fact is that over 300,000 items have now been documented. The PAS has also caused something of a paradigm shift with regards to metal detecting practices and archaeologist-treasure hunter relations.
To halt the PAS now that it is operating so successfully would be folly. All so they can build another few Domes for the Olympics. It is the Department of ‘Culture’ Media and SPORT and its proxy the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, that deserve to be scrapped.
Tags: Colin Renfrew, comprehensive spending review, Museums Libraries and Archives Council, Portable Antiquities Scheme
