Understanding Treasure Trove

Under Scots law, recently discovered archaeological finds may be treated as bona vacantia (ownerless property) and are automatically claimed by the Crown.

Archaeological finds are moveable objects that people made, modified, or used in the past and that have become ownerless. The Crown claims significant finds on behalf of the public (with no financial benefit to itself). Finds are not limited to what people usually think of as ‘treasure’. They can include gold and silver items and coin hoards, as well as non-precious metal objects, modified stone, pottery, glass, textiles, and individual coins or tokens.

Through the Treasure Trove process, these finds are made available to the public through museums. The process is overseen by the Treasure Trove Unit (TTU), which operates on behalf of the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR). Recommendations on where objects should be allocated are made by the independent Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP). SAFAP includes a chair and seven members, including an ex officio place for Museums Galleries Scotland.

Finders of claimed archaeological finds are normally offered a Finder’s Reward (also known as an ex-gratia award), based on the current market value of the find.

The Treasure Trove: Code of Practice was updated and published in March 2026. The Code is for anyone involved in the discovery, handling, reporting, or management of archaeological finds in Scotland. It provides clear, practical guidance and reporting processes, ensuring Scotland’s archaeological heritage is protected, recorded, and preserved for public benefit.

There are four ways museums can support the Treasure Trove process:

• Application for allocation of finds
• Deposit of objects
• Public engagement
• Loans from TTU

Applications for allocation of finds

To apply for a specific Treasure Trove find to be added to your accessioned collection a museum must be Accredited and located in Scotland. The TTU publishes the details of the next upcoming SAFAP meeting, including the application deadline, and shares a list of all the finds to be considered at that meeting.

You must complete an application form from the Treasure Trove website as well as more details about the application process. The application confirms the eligibility of museum, asks how the item fits into your collecting development policy, your plans for how the object will be used at the museum, and how the museum intends to meet the Finders Reward. If external financial support is needed for this, the National Fund for Acquisitions, managed by National Museums Scotland, may be able to support.

Within the Code there is a presumption that finds will be allocated to a local museum to where they were found unless a convincing argument for allocating them elsewhere is presented.

Contact the TTU unit to be added to their mailing list. This ensures your museum receives notifications of upcoming cases and application deadlines.

Depositing Objects

If a member of the public brings an object into the museum that you believe falls the remit of Treasure Trove you have a responsibility to report it. Contact TTU and provide as much detail as possible about where it was found, along with the usual deposit information. Reporting forms can be downloaded or completed online. Any images of the object and its find-spot are helpful for initial identification and may be included along with your form. The object should then be safely held at the museum until it can be assessed by the staff from the TTU.

Public Engagement

The TTU delivers outreach events across Scotland.

They work with museums to put on Finds Days. These events allow members of the public to come in and meet with experts to identify the objects that they found and to see whether they need to go through the Treasure Trove process. The TTU may also be able to support presentations on archaeology and local finds and support practical archaeology sessions.

Contact TTU to discuss your needs.

Loans from the Treasure Trove Unit

It is possible to borrow material which has not yet been formally allocated through the Treasure Trove process from the TTU. This is usually for temporary displays at a museum. Interested organisations need to complete a loan form with TTU.

Treasure Trove Scotland: Code of Practice (2026)

If you would like to discuss anything relating to Treasure Trove further, please contact Jenny Youngson, Senior Museum Development Manager.