BEDFORD MUSEUM
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New Finds Liaison Officer
Julian Watters is the Finds Liaison Officer for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. He is based at the Roman Verulamium Museum in St. Albans, but regularly visits other museums throughout the two counties. A former archaeologist, he is able to help those who approach him with finds, to identify and date their treasures. In the first three months he has come across some very interesting and rare objects, including a complete Roman toiletries set, unearthed near Bishop Stortford and handed into the local museum at Ware. The most exciting discovery so far was that of a beautiful, gilded, Viking sword guard from north Hertfordshire, whilst the oldest object was a Palaeolithic flint axe from Willington, Bedfordshire.
Preserving England’s important historical treasures has become the focus of a new nationwide scheme. In conjunction with the British Museum and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Portable Antiquities Scheme has been established to identify finds made by members of the public and to record those objects over 300 years old on a national database. Until now many important finds have gone unrecorded as those lucky enough to unearth such treasures have often not declared them for fear of confiscation. The worrying consequence of this was that a significant amount of information was lost as objects fundamental to recording the history of the area remained unavailable for academic use.
As part of the scheme the post of Finds Liaison Officer has been established to encourage the public to declare any discoveries. Each county of England and Wales now has an F.L.O. whose role it is to identify the objects for the finder and then to record them, thus making the information available to both academics and the general public through means of a website. Contrary to popular belief, objects recorded under the Portable Antiquities Scheme are subsequently returned to the finder. It is this unawareness of museum practice in regard to personal finds that the Finds Liaison Officer is attempting to overcome.
Through visits and displays at county museums and speeches to local history groups and metal detecting societies there is now an attempt to re-educate people in just how vital their co-operation is if the scheme is to be a success. In particular, the scheme seeks to counter the animosity that has long existed between metal detectorists and the heritage sector concerning find site locations and the personal ownership of national treasures.
Forthcoming events in Bedfordshire include a Finds Identification Day on 7th February at Kempston Town Hall. Julian will also be holding regular drop-in sessions at Luton and Bedford museums (dates to follow). Alternatively, finds can be reported at any time by dropping them into either of the aforementioned museums or by contacting Julian on 01727 751826, or e-mailing him at j.watters@stalbans.gov.uk . The ongoing work of the scheme can be viewed at www.finds.org.uk .