Finds up 36%

The British Museum reports that archaeological finds by the public in 2010 were 36% higher than in 2009 (CLICK). This massive increase is attributed to the new Portable Antiquities Scheme website. This includes a major database of archaeological finds which the public can explore to identify discovered items (title link). The PAS website has been shortlisted for the 2010 British Archaeological Awards (CLICK). The extremely rare Roman erotic knife handle (AD c.43-c.410) pictured here was found by David Barker in Syston, Lincolnshire, and has been acquired by The Collection, Lincoln. It shows two men and a woman, together with a severed head, doing something rude, but rather obscure!