The Portable Antiquities Scheme has uncovered thousands of important finds throughout the UK. © PAS.
When the 24 Hour Museum discovered that the Portable Antquities Scheme was heading off around the country for a series of roadshows, we decided to follow it...
Alright, not literally, but Features Editor Richard Moss, armed with a pen, notepad and telephone, got the lowdown on the archaeological landscape from Finds Liaison Officers all over the country.
Starting in Essex and working his way to Leicestershire, where Caroline Lewis took over, Richard took us on a virtual tour of England and Wales.
Talking to Finds Liaison Officers, he discovered just what their fascinating jobs entail and found out about some of the more intriguing objects they've seen in the last couple of years.
Palaeolithic hand axe found in the Thames by a police diver. © West Berkshire Heritage Service.
By holding roadshows in Essex, Devon, Berkshire, Yorkshire, Wales, Shropshire and Leicestershire amateur archaeologists, metal detectorists and just about anyone was offered the chance to have any finds they'd come across identified by experts.
So, keep an eye on the 24 Hour Museum where we'll be unearthing the best of the unusual discoveries from all of the roadshows.
To read about the Portable Antiquities Scheme and get more information about the Roadshows check out our roadshows feature where we talked to Michael Lewis, Deputy Head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Or click on one of the links below to hear from Finds Liaison Officers up and down the country.
The series started in Essex where we talked to Finds Liaison Officer Caroline McDonald.
Next we looked at Devon where Nicky Powell revealed some of the things that land on the desk of an FLO.
In Shropshire and Herefordshire FLO Peter Reavill explained the historical topography of the Welsh Marches.
In North and East Yorkshire Simon Holmes expounded the virtues of 'community archaeology'.
In Wales Mark Lodwick explained how field walkers are returning a vast amount of archaeological evidence about pre-historic Wales.
In Oxfordshire and berkshire Kate Sutton demonstrated the enormous range of finds that have turned up on her watch.
Finally we headed to Leicestershire where Wendy Scott described the discovery of one of the most important Iron Age finds of recent years.
