LONDON, ENGLAND.- Arts Minister Estelle Morris has welcomed the continuing increase in reported Treasure finds detailed in the Treasure Annual Report 2002 published today. The report contains details of 240 new cases reported during 2002 of which 104 have, or are being, acquired by museums across the country.

Estelle Morris said: "Everyone's excited by the idea of buried treasure. It also provides a unique insight into our history, and it is good that the number of finds being reported is increasing rapidly and may reach around 500 by the end of this year, representing almost a 100 per cent increase on 2002. This rise is testament to the effectiveness of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the expansion of which last year led to an average five fold increase in the reporting of Treasure.

"Metal-detector users are responsible for the great majority of Treasure finds. I am pleased to see how present arrangements are encouraging both them and archaeologists alike to co-operate on identifying and recording finds ensuring that important information about our heritage is not lost."

The Treasure report is being launched today alongside the report of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) 2003/04, the country's largest community archaeology project, which was set up to record objects found by members of the public. Many of the items listed in the Treasure report were discovered by the public and reported to the Scheme's national network of Finds Liaison officers.

Mark Wood, Chair of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council which manages the Scheme said: "We've all dreamed of uncovering hidden history, from ancient deeds in our attics to Saxon gold in our gardens. Between them, the Treasure report and the Portable Antiquities Scheme report, which covers all 47,000 items found by the public last year, provide a comprehensive record of the public's most recent discoveries – from the everyday to the truly extraordinary."

Neil Macgregor, Director of the British Museum said: "I welcome the publication of the Treasure Report which highlights the work that the British Museum, together with the National Museums & Galleries of Wales and other partners around the country, carries out in advising regional museums on the acquisition of Treasure. This is a substantial and growing area of our work as the number of Treasure cases continues to increase through the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and is highlighted by the Buried Treasure exhibition which has already been seen by 80,000 people in London and Cardiff and is currently on tour around the country."