You would normally come into contact with the Finds Liaison Officers when you record your finds, or if they visit your metal detecting club – but they are also responsible for promoting the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme amongst detectorists, archaeologists and the general public through exhibitions, outreach and the media. This can involve giving talks to local history groups, schools , higher education and various other outreach areas.

Veteran Rock Star Bill Wyman – who is an avid metal detectorist and very much into archaeology chats to some of the Portable Antiquities staff

Meggernie Castle

Dating to the 16th century this is a tall square tower attached to a larger hunting-lodge. The tower rises to 5 storeys with a steeply pitched roof. There are shot-holes below the sills of many of the windows. The walls which are now harled and whitewashed are 5 feet thick. Vaulted basement . This was a Menzies stronghold – one of the more famous of its owners being Menzies of Caldares. In 1715 he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Preston. His age prevented him participating in the 45 rising but he sheltered several Jacobite fugitives on his estate at the same time as he was giving hospitality to the government soldiers sent to capture them!

This complicated maze of walls along the cliff on the seaward side of the later church represent several building phases extending throughout the Norse period from the ninth to the twelve century, although most of the upstanding walls can be dated to the tenth century from the artefacts associated with them.

Several later buildings were removed in the course of excavtaion and traces of earlier structures remain beneath the ground surface.

Useful GPS links

Garmin hints & tips
http://www.gpsmap.net/GarminHints.html

GPS tutorial
http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.html

Understanding GPS
http://www.gpsnavmag.com/gps_navigation_training/gps_training_education.htm

Global Positioning Systems
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/

OziExplorer
http://www.oziexplorer.com/

Tracklogs
http://www.tracklogs.co.uk/cgi-bin/publ/user.cgi?obj=home

Easy GPS
http://easygps.com

Expert GPS
http://expertgps.com

GPS Trackmaker
http://www.gpstm.com/

The GPS can only store limited amount of information, say 500 waypoints, maybe 20 reversable routes and perhaps 10 tracks, so at some point it is going to get full and to add new information you would need to delete some of the information you have put in already , ie delete routes you have spent precious time creating. So instead of losing them, you can save your tracks, waypoints, routes on your PC and then delete them from your GPS to make way for more

This is the best preserved of all the houses. Its dresser, box beds, hearth and storage spaces are all standard features of Skara Brae houses.

The penned off area by the doorway was probably used for storing large pots. The reconstructed house at the visitor centre is based on house 7

This shows the basic layout of all the houses in the village.The door is beneath you. Opposite is the dresser – around the dresser , set into the floor are three small tanks for preparing fish bait. Just to the right of the dresser is a large grinding stone. In the centre is the hearth. Between the hearth and the dresser is a stone seat. On either side of the house are box beds. Above the beds, set into the walls are further storage spaces. Yet more storage is provided by cells or alcoves set into the thickness of the walls

Some FLO’s have accepted emailed submissions of finds from finders – but in a variety of formats. This format should ONLY be used where you have NO access to a FLO.

In order to standardise the way this happens and to make it available for all users of PAS and all FLO’s, a word document which can be completed and emailed your FLO has been formulated to send your find details together with images to your FLO.

The Central Unit at the Portable Antiquities Scheme has checked and agreed this form before release

Descriptions, dimensions etc. need to be done in full. Full NGRs are recommended, but voluntary. You must also include quality images as detailed below.

• Finds code – in header section (double click to open it) – your own personal record number(see also note on Images below)
• Information sent to PAS on – the date form sent
• National Grid Ref (8fig) – quote actual NGR
• National Grid Ref – quote the NGR you want shown on the public database
• Name of Finder – your name
• Address – your address
• Tel – your phone number
• Type of Find – tick relevant box
• Type of Material – tick relevant box
• Depth of find – tick relevant box
• Ground Type – tick relevant box
• Is the find part of a group?- Yes or no
• Other finds in group (numbers) – specify numbers found
• General Description – describe the find in as much detail as possible – example here
• Width – specify
• Length – specify
• Weight – specify
• Diameter – specify
• Images attached from all angles and including scale? (required) – yes or no
• Map attached? (optional) – yes or no

The most important point is making sure that if you are submitting images, that they have a scale, and that all angles are photographed.

Images must be a minimum of 400 x 400 pixels and be at least 300dpi. These images must be emailed as a separate attachment to the form and not embedded into it.

However you may want to save a further form with your images and maps inserted for your own records

You should name your images the same as your finds record number to make the FLO’s life a bit easier – i.e.:

Record Number 006

attachment: 006.jpg

If the image is taken by an individual who is not covered by the Scheme’s remit, then they retain the copyright. PAS ask the owner of the image for the rights to publish online, and will attribute copyright to them.
They make no money from image licenses.

NB. This is the result of liaison between Phil Dunning , Corinne and PAS