Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Portable Antiquities Finds Surgery returns to the Tolson Museum on Thursday 15 May with locals encouraged to bring their lost treasures to help unearth the town’s hidden past.
Organised by the South and West Yorkshire Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), the event invites members of the public to bring their archaeological finds for expert identification and recording in a public database.
Assistant curator for archaeology, Joseph Murray explains: “The PSA Finds Surgery is such a valuable resource for Huddersfield, it helps to advance everyone’s knowledge about the past and engages local communities with the history of their own gardens allowing archaeology to be accessible to everyone.”
He added: “There have been just under 400 objects recorded by The Portable Antiquities Scheme that were uncovered within Kirklees. This includes the Lindley Hoard which is a collection of three Bronze Age socketed axes found in Kirklees.”
Thousands of archaeological findings are discovered every year, many of which are found by metal detectorists, but also by people out walking, gardening, or going about their daily lives.
Finds recorded by the Antiquities scheme help advance the knowledge and history of England and Wales.
What to expect at Huddersfield history event
Held in 15-minute, pre-booked slots, the PAS Finds Surgery gives an opportunity for locals to contribute to the preservation of West Yorkshire’s history.
Items brought in are borrowed by the scheme for a three-month period, meticulously analysed, identified, and then returned to their finders with an identification.
Each artefact is recorded onto the national PAS database at Welcome to the Portable Antiquities Scheme Website.
Participants are encouraged to label their finds in advance with a grid reference and date of discovery to help with recording. With interest in history and heritage growing year upon year, this year’s Finds Surgery at Tolson is expected to be one of the busiest yet.
The event at Tolson Museum is one in a series of pop ups hosted at museums around the country, run by both the British Museum and Amguedffa Cymru- Museum Wales.
Tolson Museum, located in the heart of Huddersfield has long played a vital role in connecting the community with its heritage.
Booking is essential and can be done via Eventbrite. Do not miss the chance to be part of Huddersfield’s history.