ourpasthistory.com » Metal Detecting

Using PAS database

From the Portable Antiquities blog by Dan Pett.

 

I believe the best thing for you to do is register with the database. This opens up some of the more useful features to you. To do this, visit:
http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/registration.php
Fill in your details, and then by return email, you will be activated. This email expires after 24 hours, so if it doesn’t arrive, check your spam box. Once activated, you can now access the following:

 

1. Save your searches (either for reuse on the system each time you visit, or as an RSS feed that you can use as an alert system – this needs some special feed reading software, or for reuse in your own website – see the home page of this website http://www.ourpasthistory.com)


2. Change preferences, such as viewing thumbnails in search lists, changing the number of thumbnails that you can view, changing the number of records per page.


3. Enable tracking of your experience. I can see what people want to search upon and therefore identify problems. You cannot be identified by name as it just logs searches by auto-registered groups.

Once registered, you might need some help searching the database to get the best out of it.

There are 3 main areas for searching the database:

• Quick search – via the box in the header or the single search box from the search menu.

click here for instructions on how to use

 

• Advanced search – most popular across all user groups and requires a modicum of effort to construct a search.

click here for instructions on how to use 


• Image search – perhaps most useful for quick searching for visual recognition.

 

The fourth type of search – “visual” – is to become obsolete soon as so few people use it. The quick search box in the header is limited on the fields that can be searched within the database. These fields are:

• Object type – for example coin, brooch, axe


• Period – for example Roman, Early Medieval


• Ascribed culture – this is only used for Early Medieval objects

 

How do I search the image bank?

This is very simple and requires very little input to gain lots of output. However, it is hampered by the labelling terms entered by our recorders. To find coins of Trajan, enter Trajan in the filter box and press filter as shown below. You can then scroll through pages of anything attributed to Trajan. More often than not, you’ll get mostly coins back for that particular search.

 

How do I use RSS feeds?

These are perhaps the most powerful feature of the database and also the most underused feature. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and it is a way for one to share content easily. You need to download some software (see http://www.finds.org.uk/news/rss.php for more information) and then create and save a search as an RSS feed. I currently use some software called “Feedreader”, simple and easy to install from http://www.feedreader.com.

Once you save the search as an RSS feed you can paste the address you are presented with into your feed reader. Every time a new find that meets your search criteria is added to the database, the software alerts you to its existence. Lazy man’s surfing! If you don’t fancy creating your own feeds, try some of the ones that I have already created. You can also get RSS feeds from a whole range of other sites, for example the BBC, Google’s news pages and many more.

The other advantage of RSS, is that these feeds can be reused in your own website. If you want to do this, email me at the British Museum for more details. It could invigorate your web site with finds for your parish, county or even your own finds!

 

How are these data used?

These data that we collect are used all over the globe by archaeologists and the layman. Example projects include:

1. English Heritage funded Night-hawking study conducted by Oxford Archaeology
2. VASLE based at the University of York (AHRC)
3. The Tribal Hidage project at University College London (Leverhulme)
4. AHRC funding for 3 PhDs in 2006-2007
5. Over 50 individuals completing research for higher level degrees worldwide (Japan, Australia, USA and of course the United Kingdom)

 

Can I get more help?

Yes of course! Speak to your FLO or call the Central Unit on 0207 323 8611 or email us at info@finds.org.uk Don’t forget to register! You’ll get more from the database!


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