Services
Identification Service
Owing to the redevelopment of the Ashmolean Museum the Department of Antiquities has - reluctantly - suspended its Identification Service from Tuesday 21st December 2004 until further notice.
Archaeological artefacts (or Pre-1650 coins) with a known findspot from England or Wales
Archaeological artefacts (or Pre-1650 coins) with a known findspot from England or Wales can be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (http://www.finds.org.uk/). The Portable Antiquities Scheme seeks to identify and record archaeological finds within a national database. Please note that the last surgery of a Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Ashmolean Museum will be held on Wednesday, 5th December 2007, from 10.00 - 12.00.
For Egyptian antiquities
Dr Helen Whitehouse, the Ashmolean's curator of Egyptian antiquities, will normally be available to identify Egyptian items between 10 and 11am on the first Thursday of every month. Since her duties will occasionally dictate her absence from the Museum, it is advisable to check with the Secretary of the Department (01865 278020) in advance of a visit in order to avoid disappointment.
For other antiquities
Museum staff will be unable to provide advice until further notice. Please contact the British Museum or a large regional museum that provides an identification service.
Treasure
All finders of gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same finds, over 300 years old, have a legal obligation to report such items under the Treasure Act 1996. Now prehistoric base-metal assemblages found after st January 2003 also qualify as Treasure. Follow this link for further information. If you think that your artefact may constitute Treasure, you are legally obliged to report the find to the local Coroner within 14 days. Kate Sutton, the Finds Liaison Officer, can help with the identification of Treasure items and the reporting process.
Students' Room
Owing to the redevelopment of the Ashmolean Museum the Department of Antiquities has - reluctantly - suspended its Students' Room facility from 2nd January 2005, until further notice.
There is only very limited access to reserved collections for research or teaching while we are off-site from Spring 2006 to 2009. Please see the 13/02/07 notice from the Deputy Director (Collections) for full details.
In case of urgent need and/or access to archives, please contact the Department.