Location Guide • South East
Metal Detecting in Oxfordshire
Exceptional detecting county. The Cotswold limestone, Thames Valley gravels and Berkshire Downs chalk combine with a dense Roman road network and Iron Age hillfort heritage.
Top Site Type
Cotswold limestone arable
Best Detector Type
Multi-frequency
Region
South East
Recorded finds · Portable Antiquities Scheme
Metal Detecting Finds Recorded in Oxfordshire
37,100 archaeological objects have been officially recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire Finds by Historical Period
Most Commonly Found Objects in Oxfordshire
Coin 18,565Brooch 2,207Buckle 1,918Token 1,559Vessel 1,326Mount 855Strap Fitting 661Jetton 581
Roman and Post Medieval material leads Oxfordshire's recorded finds, with coin the most common object type.
Recent Oxfordshire 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.
Oxfordshire Metal Detecting Clubs
Oxfordshire Finds Liaison Officer
PAS Analysis
Of the 37,100 objects recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Oxfordshire, the Roman period is the strongest (16,709 finds), followed by Post Medieval, Medieval. The most commonly recorded objects are coin, brooch and buckle, with coin alone accounting for 18,565 records.
Geology, Site Types & Detecting Tips in Oxfordshire
Geology
Jurassic limestone (Cotswolds) excellent preservation. Thames Valley gravel terraces highly productive. Chalk in the south (Chilterns fringe). Gault and Oxford Clay in the vale.
Site Types to Target
Cotswold limestone arable, Thames valley gravel terrace farmland, fields along Akeman Street, Watling Street and Fosse Way
What You Can Find
Roman coins and high-quality bronzes, Iron Age Dobunni and Atrebates coins, Bronze Age hoards on the limestone plateau, Saxon material in the Thames corridor, medieval material
Notable Discoveries
The White Horse area (Uffington) has produced Bronze Age material of national significance. Roman Alchester produces consistent high-quality finds. Thames corridor Saxon material is consistently found.
Detecting Tips
The limestone plateau between Chipping Norton and Burford is outstanding. Thames valley fields near Abingdon and Dorchester are consistently productive for all periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go metal detecting in Oxfordshire?
You can detect on private land in Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire?
Yes. Metal detecting is legal in Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire?
Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire?
Oxfordshire has 37,100 objects recorded with the PAS, with the Roman period the most common. The most commonly recorded objects are coin, brooch and buckle, with coin alone accounting for 18,565 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 Oxfordshire?
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