This not so pretty find of a Roman coin is the PAS' 300,000th logged find. © PAS

The Portable Antiquities Scheme, which records and logs archaeological items found by members of the public in England and Wales, passed an important milestone yesterday, when it recorded its 300,000th object.

The find in question was a lowly Roman coin (a nummus or radiate) logged onto the PAS database on October 22 2007 by Charlotte Burrill, the Finds Liaison Officer for Berkshire.

Brought in by a member of the public at a Weekend Wanderer’s Rally, the modest find now takes its place with similar finds, helping to create an invaluable pattern of Roman archaeology across the Oxfordshire and Berkshire region.

A rare Roman figurine that references an early trade in slaves came to light in Andover in Hampshire in June 2007. © Winchester Museums Service/Portable Antiquities Scheme

“It’s a major milestone to have so many records on the site – and the database is becoming a useful resource because as the numbers increase it becomes more useable,” said Michael Lewis, Deputy Head of the PAS.

Every year thousands of objects are discovered, many of them by metal-detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work and 2007 has been another fruitful year.

Since January 1 2007, 66,032 objects have been recorded and logged, among them some important and intriguing finds ranging from a Roman curse tablet and a medieval horse boss referencing the 2nd Duke of Buckingham to a rare Roman figurine that relates to the Romano British slave trade.

This medieval boss references Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and was found and reported by a metal detectorist in Surrey and logged onto the PAS in June 2007 © Surrey County Council/PAS

“Since we extended the scheme in 2003 with Finds Liaison Officers in place across the regions we have seen a massive increase in the number of finds brought in and logged,” added Michael.

“In many ways you would expect this – certainly since the early days of the scheme – but I’m pleased to see that the increase has been sustained each year, which I think demonstrates a need for these finds to be logged and the success of the scheme as a whole.”

The annual report of the PAS is due to be published in late November 2007, in it will be a detailed analysis of the myriad finds brought in by members of the public in the last twelve months, in the meantime visit www.finds.org.uk to find out more about the scheme and to browse the archaeological heritage of England and Wales.