Responsible Detecting, Treasure & Heritage Notice

You must obtain the landowner’s (and where relevant the tenant’s) express permission before searching or digging on any land. A Land Intelligence report, boundary, target or navigation route in the Vault is research information only and is never evidence of permission or access rights.

We expect users to follow the Code of Practice for Responsible Metal Detecting in England and Wales, and the equivalent guidance elsewhere in the UK: search responsibly, backfill holes, avoid damaging crops or livestock, and record findspots accurately.

Finds that may qualify as treasure must be reported to the coroner within the period required by law. Reporting duties differ across England and Wales, Scotland (where all finds fall under Treasure Trove) and Northern Ireland.

Recording finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, where available, is strongly encouraged. Nothing in a Vault report replaces these duties, and an AI opinion that a find is or is not treasure has no legal status.

Scheduled monuments, protected wreck sites, sites of special scientific interest and certain other designated land are subject to specific legal protection. Detecting or disturbance on such land may be a criminal offence without prior consent. Vault mapping does not determine designation status; check with the relevant heritage body.

Field Navigator and mapping tools do not assess terrain hazards, water, livestock, machinery, unexploded ordnance, weather or mobile signal. You are responsible for your own safety and for assessing conditions on the ground.

Accounts used to plan or support unlawful searching, trespass, night-hawking or damage to heritage assets may be suspended or terminated, and we may cooperate with lawful requests from the authorities.