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Metal Detecting Finds in Scotland

1 published discovery in the Artefacts category from Scotland — coins, hoards, jewellery and artefacts recovered by detectorists and archaeologists.

Artefacts from Scotland

1 find

Showing only Artefacts found in Scotland. Show all Scotland finds, or see Artefacts from everywhere.

Scotland · Artefacts · Medieval · 1 Oct 2026

The Lewis Chessmen: medieval chess pieces hidden in a Hebridean sandbank

Found on the Isle of Lewis by 1831, the Lewis Chessmen are 93 pieces carved from walrus ivory and whale tooth in the late 1100s, among them the famous shield-biting warriors. They are now split between London and Edinburgh.

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A specialist feed bringing together metal detecting discoveries, archaeological finds and treasure stories from around the world.

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Before you dig

Finding things is the easy part. These are the people who make a find count for something.

The Code of Conduct NCMD — permission in writing, backfill your holes, report what matters
Find your Finds Liaison Officer PAS — the person who records your find properly, free of charge
Search the PAS database Over a million recorded objects, and a good way to identify your own
National Council for Metal Detecting Advice on permissions, landowner agreements and insurance

Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland

Those four are for England and Wales, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme records finds and the Treasure Act decides what must be reported.

Scotland runs its own system, and every find is reportable there — not only treasure. Treasure Trove Unit ›

The Republic of Ireland is different again, and severely so. Searching for archaeological objects without the Minister’s written consent is a criminal offence carrying fines or imprisonment, and the definition is broad enough to cover coins, buttons and buckles of almost any age. Do not assume British rules travel with you. The law, from the National Museum ›

Northern Ireland is stricter still. The Treasure Act applies and finds go to National Museums NI within fourteen days, but any searching that involves digging — metal detecting expressly included — needs a licence, and licences are only granted for archaeological projects. National Museums NI ›

This site covers discoveries from all over the world, and so does the variation in the law — from a recording scheme that thanks you, to a criminal offence. Wherever you are searching, find out what applies there before you go, not after.

Found something? What to do next › · Buying or selling a find? What is legal to sell, and where ›