Location Guide • West Midlands
Metal Detecting in Staffordshire
Famous for the Staffordshire Hoard – the largest Anglo-Saxon gold hoard ever found. The Trent valley and Cannock Chase fringe have good detecting, and Roman roads cross the county.
Top Site Type
Trent valley arable farmland
Best Detector Type
Multi-frequency
Region
West Midlands
Recorded finds · Portable Antiquities Scheme
Metal Detecting Finds Recorded in Staffordshire
13,477 archaeological objects have been officially recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Staffordshire.
Staffordshire Finds by Historical Period
Most Commonly Found Objects in Staffordshire
Coin 3,805Brooch 1,086Token 972Vessel 840Unidentified Object 725Buckle 704Spindle Whorl 363Sword 333
Post Medieval and Medieval material leads Staffordshire's recorded finds, with coin the most common object type.
Recent Staffordshire Metal Detecting Finds
Data and images from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (finds.org.uk), © The Trustees of the British Museum, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Figures reflect objects voluntarily recorded by finders and do not represent all finds made in the county. Last updated July 2026.
Staffordshire Metal Detecting Clubs
PAS Analysis
Of the 13,477 objects recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Staffordshire, the Post Medieval period is the strongest (4,314 finds), followed by Medieval, Roman. The most commonly recorded objects are coin, brooch and token, with coin alone accounting for 3,805 records.
Geology, Site Types & Detecting Tips in Staffordshire
Geology
Coal Measures in the south (urban). Triassic Keuper Marl across much of the county. River Trent and Dove valley terraces. Cannock Chase sandstone.
Site Types to Target
Trent and Dove valley arable farmland, fields along Watling Street and Ryknield Street, eastern Staffordshire farmland
What You Can Find
Saxon gold and silver material (Staffordshire Hoard style), Roman coins and bronzes along Watling Street, medieval material from the county’s farming estates
Notable Discoveries
The Staffordshire Hoard (2009) – 3,500+ pieces of Saxon gold and silver – is the most significant single metal detecting find in British history. Found in a field near Lichfield.
Detecting Tips
The Staffordshire Hoard was found on non-obvious farmland. Do your research – LiDAR and historic map analysis can identify promising new fields. The Trent valley is consistently productive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go metal detecting in Staffordshire?
You can detect on private land in Staffordshire with the landowner’s permission. You must avoid scheduled monuments, SSSIs and other protected sites. Joining a local club is the easiest way to reach permissioned land.
Is metal detecting legal in Staffordshire?
Yes. Metal detecting is legal in Staffordshire on land where you have the landowner’s permission, as long as you avoid protected sites and follow the law on reporting treasure and recording finds.
Who is the Finds Liaison Officer for Staffordshire?
Staffordshire is covered by a Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer who records finds made by the public. See the FLO section on this page for contact details, or search finds.org.uk.
What finds turn up in Staffordshire?
Staffordshire has 13,477 objects recorded with the PAS, with the Post Medieval period the most common. The most commonly recorded objects are coin, brooch and token, with coin alone accounting for 3,805 records.
Sources & Last Checked
PAS data from finds.org.uk, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Last checked July 2026.
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Detecting in Staffordshire?
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