The document discusses guidelines for recording finds and objects in a database. It provides examples of the types of information to include such as image descriptions, findspots, dates, materials, and measurements. It also discusses writing clear and unambiguous descriptions, backing claims with evidence, and including extra details. The document offers tips on quoting parallels and guidance on what to record after 1700 AD, focusing on objects that tell a story or help identify other finds.

1. Why do we record objects? KENT-405833

2. What do we record? image description findspot and how found date of object identifier material dimensions

3. Map of the distribution of early Anglo-Saxon wrist-clasps (from Lucy 2000) SF7853 Chippenham, Cambridgeshire

4. Finds from a collection of early Anglo-Saxon objects

5. Finds picked up after de-stoning in advance of carrot planting in a single field at Oxborough, Norfolk

6. image description findspot and how found date of object identifier material dimensions date of recording

7. FAHG-7B3D73 KENT-FED666

8. Primary material Surface treatment Broad period The ‘advanced search’ screen

13. DOR-C080A4

15. ‘ Scan dan avian’ should be spelled ‘Scan din avian’ (there are several on the database for me to correct)

16. Romanists have strap-ends (Hawkes and Dunning 1962) Medievalists have belt-chapes (Ward-Perkins 1940)

17. Anglo-Saxon loops and tongues; Marzinzik 2003, 308 Medieval frames and pins; Egan and Pritchard 1991, 51

19. Too many boarders and not enough borders

20. Round pin heads? Spherical – YORYM-0B2194 Flat and circular – WMID-C6EC38

21. LIN-AC7FF0 There are four ring-and-dot motifs on each side – or is there one on each side, and four on the front and back? Edges can also be a problem….

23. Medieval animal-head mount with each image oriented correctly Lead die with Roman numerals – the images are not oriented correctly

25. Quoting parallels – in order of usefulness 1. Excavated parallels from dated archaeological contexts give solid evidence for date (e.g. Museum of London finds books) 2. Unstratified archaeological finds or the PAS database do not have dates, but have good findspots and often evidence for other parallels which eventually lead you back to a date 3. Books with lots of pictures, identifications and dates, but no evidence backing this up are the worst.

26. Geoff Egan we miss him very much

30. In practice – things you will record Complete objects that help us understand or identify incomplete and difficult objects These things used to be a puzzle – were they Roman spoon handles?

31. No, they were 18 th - or 19 th -century… what? Candlestick elements, drawer handles, curtain tie-back handles have all been suggested. NCL-775DF4 SOM-6B52C5 NMS-FA74E3

32. These middle Anglo-Saxon pin heads didn’t look quite right…. CORN-9D3541 BH-F6E4D2 BH-7A8FD3

33. SUSS-59F935 … because they were actually modern coat-hooks!

34. SUSS-59F935

35. On the PAS website, click ‘Contacts’ at the top and scroll down…. … then click on this

36. click here to read it