Collections Service

Please be aware that some changes have had to be made to the Collections Service since we reopened the Museum after its redevelopment.

Donations
We always appreciate offers from the public to donate items to our collections. However, we are only able to accept such donations by appointment only. Appointments will need to be made directly with our Collections Manager or our Archaeology Development Officer, if it is an archaeological donation. In order to maintain proper records, we are unable to accept donations into the Museum without an appointment.

Identification Service
Unfortunately, we will no longer be running an artefact ID service, except for archaeological identifications as part of the Portable Antiques Scheme (more information is below). These will also be available by appointment only, on Fridays. The county Finds Liaison Officer is in Peterborough one day a week on Fridays, and the Muesum cannot accept items for identification except via appointment on these days.
We will endeavour to have some general information about common geology finds on the website in the future, as a useful reference point. Alternately, other museums in our region may offer an identification service which you could make use of.

Artefact Identification Service

Do you have an Archaeological artefact that is more than 300 years old?

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a national programme which assists with the recording of finds discovered by members of the public. The scheme aims to help finders have their objects identified and recorded, as well as providing specialist advice on conservation and storage. The finds are recorded centrally on a national database, which can be accessed over the Internet.

Archaeological finds are more common than you might think. Anything can be found by anybody – while gardening, building an extension, walking the dog, on the beach, or while using a metal-detector. The Portable Antiquities Scheme adds another piece to the jigsaw puzzle of the past. It does not record finds made during routine archaeological investigations, as these are recorded directly on the Historic Environment Record.

The Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is based in Peterborough one day per week. We ask that you make an appointment in advance to meet with the FLO.

For information on the Treasure Act 1996, Export Licenses or just to browse items that have already been recorded please

The Portable Antiquities Scheme operates in partnership with the British Museum and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Enquires (including research)
We are still happy to answer collections and research enquiries. However please be aware that we are currently working chronologically through the backlog of enquires received over last year when the museum was closed. This may mean that your enquiry will take longer to get to than normal. If you have a collections enquiry, please contact us on 01733 864663, or museum@vivacity-peterborough.com