What should happen to the Scottish treasure?

Experts say apps and new technologies could modernize the search for buried treasure in Scotland.

The boom in metal detector use has put pressure on the current Treasure Trove system as more and more people send in their finds.

Archaeological objects found in Scotland are considered by law as “ownerless property” and can be claimed by the Crown.

The Lost and Found office decides whether these items are offered to museums, which then pay the finder a financial reward.

Dr Stuart Allan, who is leading a public review of the Treasury, says the Edinburgh-based unit needs to move with the times.

He suggests an app that could help by allowing detectorists to submit finds for a quick initial assessment.

He said: “The aim is to streamline, modernise and use all the tools at our disposal – without compromising on the quality of the storage and interpretation of archaeological information.”

Recent finds in Scotland include a Mesolithic harpoon, a memento mori finger ring with a human skeleton and a hoard of coins near Peebles that could be dated to 1150 BC.

The National Council for Metal Detecting now has 1,600 members in Scotland, after numbers have increased since the Covid pandemic.

Amateur and professional archaeology has also increased.

Objects are also discovered during field hikes or through magnet fishing.

Even on a recent wet and windy weekend, dozens of hardy enthusiasts walked slowly back and forth across the Perthshire farmland.

They searched for objects from all periods of human activity, from prehistory to modern times, and from gold and silver objects to hoards of coins.

Rich finds have been made in the fields in the past, so their location is only known to metal detectorists who have permission to search the ground.

They told BBC Scotland News that their hobby is addictive, engaging and a way for them to connect with Scotland’s past.

Lynne Ross from Motherwell has been a detective since 2019 and wishes she had started earlier.

She said, “I think when you grow up, you think about treasures and the adventure that comes with them.”

Phil Wilson, a builder from Largs, says his passion has been ridiculed by others.

He said: “Some people say it’s a hobby for geeks. I say no, you’re studying history and that’s the closest you’re going to get to it.”

Colin Irvine, one of Scotland’s most experienced treasure hunters, found four 14th-century coins in a field in Perthshire.

He believes the system needs to be accelerated.

He explained: “Most of the finds are returned by the Treasure Trove Unit.

“Museums are short of money and often the location where the object was found is more important than the object itself.

“I would welcome it if finds from 1700 onwards were not counted as treasures. 90 percent of our finds come from after 1700. That would save us a lot of time.”

The laws regarding financial rewards differ in Scotland and England and Wales.

Under the Scottish system, the money is given to the finder, who has usually previously made an agreement with the landowner for half the amount.

In rare cases, disputes arise.

In 2019, the Church of Scotland filed a lawsuit for its share of a £2 million Viking treasure unearthed on its land in Dumfries and Galloway.

The case was later settled out of court.

In England and Wales, such difficulties are unlikely to arise because the Treasure Act 1996 stipulates that the money must be divided between the finder and the landowner, with the Treasure Valuation Committee deciding on the division.

Alan Tamblyn, general secretary of the National Council for Metal Detecting, said: “Shaking hands is great until something goes wrong. It’s important to formalise this.”

The audit of the Treasury is carried out on behalf of the Crown’s representative in Scotland, the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer.

The public consultation on the review ends on 13 May.