Here's how many ancient finds are now in museums after being unearthed in Northamptonshire

This gold Stater found in Northamptonshire is believed to be more than 2,000 years old

British Museum experts have more than 23,000 archaeological finds to study thanks to the people of Northamptonshire.

Among the most ancient items is an Iron Age gold Stater which is believed to be more than 2,000 years old.

The museum recently announced that its Portable Antiquities Scheme has hit a milestone 1.5million archaeological objects — including 23,108 found here in our county.

This seal was issued by Pope Alexander III, whose Papacy ran from AD 1159-1181;

Northamptonshire County Council’s Archives and Heritage Service hosts the Portable Antiquities Scheme on behalf of the British Museum and holds regular Finds Events at Kettering and Daventry Museums for the public to identify and record their finds.

County Council deputy leader Lizzy Bowen said: “1.5 million finds is a fantastic milestone and I am thrilled that our Archives and Heritage Service has been able to work alongside the British Museum.

“These finds have helped transform our understanding of the history and archaeology of Northamptonshire, and of Britain generally, and we encourage everyone who makes a find to continue to come forward.

“We are excited to see how many more objects are recorded - who knows what fascinating discoveries are yet to be found.”

Among the historic finds here in Northamptonshire is the gold Stater which dates to a period between 25BC and 10AD. It belonged to the Catuvellauni, an Iron Age tribe whose region ran along the south and east border of the county and is linked to the resistance against the Roman conquests of AD43 and AD54.

Also included in the collection is a Papal Bulla — a type of seal attached to official documents, issued by the Pope via silk or hemp threads — from Pope Alexander III, whose Papacy ran from AD 1159-1181; and a silver halfgroat of the Commonwealth of England (1649-1660), with the reverse depicting the conjoined shields of St George and Ireland.

The British Museum’s scheme was set up in 1997 so that archaeological objects found by the public could be recorded and used to help advance our knowledge of the past.

Recorded items include arrowheads, axes, beads, brooches, buckles, coins, combs, finger-rings, gaming pieces, knives, pottery, sculpture, spindle whorls, tokens and vervels — rings attached to a bird's leg for securing it to a perch.

A number of discoveries are so important to the history of the life in Britain that they have been acquired or displayed by museums for the public to enjoy, including at Kettering, Daventry and Northampton.

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