We are pleased to report that the online version of First Aid for Finds (FAFF) is now online: https://www.firstaidforfinds.org/. This version of FAFF has been updated to serve a wide range of people working on land-based sites including professionals and volunteers, students and metal detectorists. The production of FAFF was supported by Icon AG, Cardiff University and RESCUE. A hard copy option will be investigated to provide a print-on-demand eBook.
The content is organised in sections including planning, archaeological materials and decay, labelling and marking, examination and cleaning, sampling and packaging. Final sections include sources of further information and supplies and equipment. The advice is informed by the latest knowledge and techniques, backed up by references, advisory notes and guidelines produced by bodies such as Historic England, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, the Council for British Archaeology, and Icon.
FAFF provides a platform for additional material, one of the virtues of an online version. Icon AG is planning a series of events over the next two years to cover each of the content areas. These will take the form of videos produced for online talks and workshops. Contributions from our members will be sought for each topic – tips, techniques, tools are all welcome – long or short! It is hoped that some of these can then be added to the FAFF website. Look out for announcements in Iconnect.