TREASURE TROVE IN SCOTLAND REPORT BY QUEEN’S AND LORD TREASURER’S REMEMBRANCER 2014/2015 Protecting our Archaeological Heritage for the Nation CONTENTS Page Foreword and Report by QLTR 1 Introduction 3 Remit of SAFAP 3 Report by the Chair of SAFAP 3 Interesting Cases 6 Statistics 11 The work of the Treasure Trove Unit 12 Allocation procedures 13 Funding 13 TTU Contact details 13 Information for users of the Treasure Trove system 14 Comments from Readers 14 APPENDICES 15 Appendix 1 - Names and professional status of members of SAFAP 16 Appendix 2 - Terms of Reference of SAFAP 20 Appendix 3 - List of allocated Finds, their find spots and recipient museums 22 Appendix 4 - List of Finders whose finds were claimed in this reporting year 30 and who have agreed to their name being published Appendix 5 - 2 Flow Charts – Chance Finds and Excavation assemblages 31 Appendix 6 – TTU Contact details (as at October 2015) 33 Appendix 7 - Information for users of the Treasure Trove system 34 Appendix 8 – Standard Reporting form for chance Finds 38 TREASURE TROVE IN SCOTLAND - REPORT BY QUEEN’S AND LORD TREASURER’S REMEMBRANCER Following on from our public consultation on proposed changes to the Treasure Trove Code of Practice, this is the first year in which the changes have been implemented, introducing a number of welcome additions across the system. They give the finder greater recognition in the process, with the option for them to be publicly credited in a museum display. At the same time the revised Code makes things easier for heritage professionals; for museums applying to be allocated Treasure Trove objects and also giving archaeologists who excavate material the opportunity to provide an assessment of the significance of their assemblage to interested museums. That should make the work of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP) quicker and more open, allowing all involved to benefit from these improvements to the system. The work of SAFAP is vital to the system; and I am very grateful to that panel of independent heritage experts, who advise me on the suitable allocation of objects to museums and provide a fair and balanced means to ensure that all parties - from the finders through to museums -are treated equitably. I am delighted to report a further rise in the number of objects reported to the Treasure Trove Unit. You can read more about the work of the TTU members in their section of this report. Their outreach program continues to encourage good practice and reporting of finds by engaging with, and educating, both the public and museums about the Treasure Trove process. A particularly important aspect of this is building good working relations with all metal detector users, who are the members of the public who continue to find the majority of objects. The most significant find in this period was undoubtedly the discovery of a Viking hoard in Galloway. It was also a first class example of good practice in action, with - 1 - the finder alerting the TTU immediately who in turn arranged the recovery of the material in collaboration with local authority archaeologists. Not surprisingly this discovery attracted international media attention and the TTU are currently working in close collaboration with a number of other key Scottish heritage sector organisations to ensure that the hoard can be considered by SAFAP in the coming year. In addition to the many Roman objects and Medieval gold and silver, other finds highlighted in this report come from amazingly different social times and circumstances. The list includes a toilet implement from 16th century, and from the 17th century a toy. Proof that what may seem a relatively unremarkable object at first sight can actually play a significant role in our understanding of Scotland’s past and our common cultural heritage. It is a pleasure to be able to make use of this Annual Report to record again my thanks to the public spirited finders whose declaration of their finds to the TTU is what ultimately allows all us all to enjoy them. Catherine Dyer Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer October 2015 - 2 - INTRODUCTION 1. This report covers Treasure Trove matters dealt with by the Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (“QLTR”) and by the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (“SAFAP”), from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. REMIT OF SAFAP 2. A list of the names and professional status of the current members of SAFAP, all of whom serve unpaid, is provided in Appendix 1 to this Report. 3. This report therefore covers one year of the operation of the SAFAP, which meets approximately every four months. The Terms of Reference approved by the Scottish Government are reproduced in Appendix 2. REPORT BY THE CHAIR OF SAFAP 4. During the past year the revised Code of Practice has come into effect and, judging from the feedback received to date, it seems to have streamlined the application process for museums and clarified terminology. The Panel, supported by the TTU, have been monitoring its impact and taking action on any minor anomalies which have come to light through its application. Fortunately, these have been very few. The Panel met on 3 July and 6 November. In a forced re-scheduling as a result of being non quorate, the meeting scheduled for 26 March was rearranged for 1 May. The annual review meeting with the QLTR took place on 13 November; the presence of Jane Carmichael, (Head of Collections at NMS) was greatly appreciated as part of the ongoing partnership between the QLTR, NMS and the Scottish Government in the operation of treasure trove through the Treasure Trove Unit (TTU). The July meeting took place at the McManus Gallery, Dundee, where local stakeholders met and chatted with Panel members over lunch. This is the second time the Panel has met outside Edinburgh and these occasions have already proved useful in enabling users of Treasure Trove to meet and talk with Panel members, while Panel members have enjoyed the opportunity to introduce themselves and find out more about local archaeological activities. In 2015 a meeting in Glasgow is planned. - 3 - The expansion of SAFAP’s membership through the addition of both a second professional member and a permanent representative of Historic Scotland has strengthened the Panel archaeological expertise. At the same time communication, outreach and collaboration within the sector continues to improve; both TTU and the Panel have increased their outreach activity and social media are proving vital to maintain regular and up-to-date communication with all parts of the sector. During the year 284 objects found by members of the public and 31 assemblages found by professional archaeologists (469 objects and 80 assemblages had the meeting on 26 March had not been deferred) have been considered by the Panel. Of these the vast majority have gone to local museums although several went to museums acting in a capacity of ‘last resort’ by taking objects that local museums were unable to acquire (and these cases are noted in Appendix 3). In addition 2 cases of chance finds and 4 assemblages were disclaimed (11 chance finds and 22 assemblages had the meeting on 26 March had not been deferred). There seems to be evidence of increasing numbers of chance finds being taken either by the museums of last resort or disclaimed in the absence of applications from museums which would normally have expressed interest in local finds. This is a cause for concern to the TTU, QLTR and SAFAP since a sustained high level of disclaims could impact negatively on the operation of Treasure Trove. The reasons for the lack of interest appear to include financial pressures and loss of specialist expertise in local authority museums; the Panel is seeking further data on the levels of archaeological curatorship across the sector and consulting with the TTU and I acknowledge the role played by Panel members Jilly Burns (NMS) and Jennifer Siswell (MGS) in collating this information. The highlight of the year has been the discovery of the Viking hoard from Galloway during the summer of 2014. While this has yet to reach the Panel, it has thrown up issues unprecedented in the previous operation of Treasure Trove in Scotland because of the scale, complexity and likely value of the find. Resources across Scotland for the excavation, conservation and care of archaeological artefacts are fragile. This is apparent in the time required for the investigation of the Hoard since some specialised skills are in high demand and short supply. SAFAP acknowledges with thanks Historic Scotland’s substantial contribution to the documentation, analysis and conservation work, in - 4 - collaboration with MGS and NMS. It was a great pleasure for SAFAP members to be invited to the session at the National Museum of Scotland in November when some of the Hoard and specialist scans were viewed and discussed by experts from across the country and with the active participation of the finders. SAFAP anticipates holding a special meeting to consider the Hoard once conservation has been completed and will draw on external expertise to assist in the valuation of this unique and complex group of objects. Membership of the Panel has been unchanged in the past year and there is a vacancy for a lay member which we hope to see advertised very shortly. As always I am grateful for the expertise, time and thought brought to Panel deliberations by all Panel members, by Andrew Brown, Solicitor to the QLTR, Catriona Ogg, QLTR administrator, and by Stuart Campbell and Dr Natasha Ferguson in all the varied responsibilities of the TTU. Evelyn Silber, Chair of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel - 5 - INTERESTING CASES 5.