by Richard Henry

Every year around 5,000 archaeological objects from Wiltshire are recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme. These finds are made by members of the public and each object on the database has a story to tell. Each is a link between us and the past. Every article was once designed for a purpose, and thought has gone into its construction.

50 Finds from Wiltshire focuses on the stories that these objects can reveal, informing us about civil unrest, wars, religion, trade, the economy, or a unique insight into daily life. 12 of the objects featured in the book are now in the collections of the Wiltshire Museum, many donated by those who found them.

The landscape of Wiltshire has been shaped by of thousands of years of human activity, and we can see this history through the archaeology. The lives of those who have shaped the landscape can be told through what they have left behind. When viewing every object in its context, its history is revealed. The objects recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme add a new dimension to our understanding of the past.