PAS Treasure Report

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by gonetopot

As part of the archiving process in English commercial archaeology most finds officers send out 'ownership transfer' papers to the owners of the land so that any finds (treasure or not) are formally handed over to the relevent museum via the unit in question. The papers are sent after excavation so that the quantity of find/archives can be stated. But I am unclear whether at an earlier stage their is a requirement for them sign said papers.

I can see that in this process you could declare treasure but haven't come across it as common practice. It would be an interesting way to raise money for post-ex and reduce client costs.

I am greatly intrigued as to what is common practice and what the law/regulations explicitly state or require. The more I read this thread the less sure I am...

Does anybody know what the policy of those who set project specifications is? surely county archaeologists etc??

gonetopot,

'Archaeological Archives' published by the Archaeological Archives Forum (AAF)in 2007 says, in Section 5.4 'Transfer of Title in England and Wales' (point 5)

"It is highly desirable that transfer of title forms be signed by the landowner at the planning stage of a project, although it is recognised that landowners may be reluctant to do this, and forms may therefore be signed when the archive is prepared for deposition."