Reliving history at 'finds event'

So a recent ‘finds event’ at Oakwell Hall in Birstall gave me the perfect opportunity to peep into the past.

Bottles and the more unusual horse pendants dating back to medieval times were among the historical memorabilia brought by members of the public eager to discover more about their artefacts.

An old steel yard weight dating back 500 years, a selection of seal matrices – the metal object used for pressing into the wax to create a seal – and horse pendants were laid out on the table in the museum barn ready for Amy Cooper to reflect on their use and record, to give future generations an insight into how we used to live.

Amy is something of a rarity herself. As one of only 37 finds liaison officers in the country, Amy is responsible for recording historic relics.

Archaeological graduate Amy joined the Portable Antiquities Scheme two years ago. Based at the British Museum in London, the PAS is a voluntary initiative set up in 1997 to enable the voluntary recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. All finds that are more than 300 years old are recorded.

The PAS is managed by a consortium of bodies led by the British Museum on behalf of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, and is funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, with contributions from local partners.

Since its inception, the scheme has recorded more than 300,000 artefacts. In 2004, the scheme expanded, with Amy looking after South and West Yorkshire from her Wakefield base within the Registry of Deeds, part of West Yorkshire Joint Services.

Amy hosts regular finds afternoons in each district. Another source for seeking out historic finds are local metal detecting clubs.

Medievalist and collector David Harpin brought along a bag of finds he bought from metal detector enthusiasts.

Among them were the horse pendants he explains would have adorned the leather and fabric on the steeds ridden by medieval knights. A steel yard weight was another find he bought because it reminded him of his days working in ironmongery.

David’s interest in medieval times began when he watched Robin Hood on TV as a young boy. “I started collecting coins when I was about six, and as soon as I found medieval coins when I was 12, I started collecting those,” he says.

David has books to broaden his knowledge on the relics he buys, but he also wants to share his artefacts with experts like Amy so they can be recorded to help future enthusiasts piece together the past.

Amy’s fascination with the way we used to live stems from childhood. “My parents were both teachers and took me and my brother around sites, castles and monasteries.

“It just seemed natural to follow that. I can’t imagine not being interested in it,” she says.

The popularity of metal detecting has led to the growth in artefacts being uncovered. The internet has also played a part in the increase in finds.

Curiosity about something they’ve found generally prompts people to find out more about it. Susan Holden’s round-bottomed bottle flummoxed Amy and the museum staff, on hand to explain the significance of pieces taken along to the event that might not have been found in the ground.

“We get all sorts of things – heirlooms, things found in the attic. They can be difficult to deal with. I’m used to seeing things that are rusty and corroded,” says Amy.

The bottle and the toilet water bottle Susan took along belonged to her husband, who uncovered them while driving heavy plant machinery.

Amy suggested the toilet water bottle could date back to the early 1900s, but the round-bottomed bottle sparked intrigue.

Susan said she’d had the bottle for about 25 years. The museum staff offered to investigate its history for her.

The bottle was perhaps the most intriguing find of the day, but for Amy there have been many during her two years with the PAS. She recalls the most notable, known as the Harrogate Hoard – a silver bowl containing 617 Anglo Saxon coins found in the Harrogate area. It made the national news headlines.

“That type of find is technically ‘treasure’,” says Amy.

Objects declared as treasure are any metallic object, other than a coin, provided at least ten per cent of the weight is precious metal (gold or silver) and which is at least 300-years-old when found. If the object is of prehistoric date, it will be treasure, provided any part of it is precious metal.

All treasure finds have to be reported to the coroner for the district in which the finds were made, either within 14 days of the find or within 14 days after realising it may be treasure. The obligation to report finds applies to everyone, including archaeologists.

Amy records around 1,000 finds every year. The PAS has recorded 11 finds from the Bradford district; 26 from Kirklees; 39 from Calderdale; 382 from Leeds and 355 from Wakefield.

Most finds are disturbed during ploughing. Any finds in these areas are deemed important and should be recorded. Artefacts can be found while gardening or spotted in molehills.

Among the most interesting were a lead alloy token from medieval times and a copper alloy Bronze Age palstave, found by metal detectors in Addingham.

A 17th century button and a Roman brooch with the enamel still visible and are among the finds Amy carries for educational purposes.

“We really are changing history by recording these objects. We are changing our interpretation of history,” says Amy.

Details of the finds can be found on the online database accessed through the website finds.org.uk l Future Finds afternoons take place, from 2pm to 4pm, next Wednesday at Shibden Hall, Halifax; Wednesday March 11, at the Manor House Museum, Ilkley; Wednesday, April 15, at Oakwell Hall, Birstall and Wednesday, June 13, at the Manor House Museum, Ilkley.

For more information ring (01924) 305359 or email acooper@wyjs.org.uk