1996 Treasure Act consultation response from the UK Government

Changes to the 1996 Treasure Act will see artefacts defined as treasure if they are of historical or cultural significance. This means that artefacts that were once lost to the public will now go on display in museums.

The CBA welcomes the recommendations set out in the Government’s response to the consultation, in particular their comment to revise the definition of treasure to ensure it includes all of the most important discoveries.

This will be the most significant change to treasure since the 1996 Act came into being and will help secure the cultural value of many more items discovered by metal detection.