More than 20 treasure finds recorded across Buckinghamshire last year
More than 20 treasure finds were recorded across Buckinghamshire last year, according to data published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
A total of 22 treasure finds were reported in 2024 across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, the same number as in 2023.
The county with the most recorded treasure finds across England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year was Norfolk, where 138 were reported.
Across the three nations, 1,540 finds were recorded in 2024, an increase of 200 on the previous year and the highest figure since records began in 1996.
The definition of treasure was expanded in 2023, focusing more on historical significance rather than precious metal content.
Just two treasure finds have met the new definition so far.
Acting head of the portable antiquities scheme and treasure at the British Museum Ian Richardson said: "It is great to see so many finds declared by the public and over the past 25 years the vast majority of finds recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme have come from detectorists.
"This increase is in some part due to the rise in popularity of metal detecting, and the increased skill of finders who play a pivotal part in recording the nation's history.
"Other factors to consider include a more widespread understanding among detectorists of their legal obligation to report treasure to their local Finds Liaison Officer, and the ease with which they can do so."
The finalised 2023 statistics show that 378 treasures were acquired by or donated to museums, while 728 were disclaimed, meaning that museums initially expressed an interest in acquiring a find, but subsequently withdrew it.
The figures also revealed that 95 per cent of finds were discovered by metal detecting, up slightly from 94 per cent in 2022.