Question 1

What is included in every report?

Accepted Answer

Every Aubrey report contains up to twelve deep-dive sections — each drawing on different records, different centuries, different types of evidence. The sections included in your report depend on your location. Every report covers: an interactive map of all finds and monuments in your area, archaeological finds recorded by period, nationally protected monuments with their full historical records, geological and landscape analysis, historical land records, historic field names from Victorian maps, literature and archive sources, legal and access information, a historical timeline from prehistory to the present, and Aubrey's assessment of the most significant zones. Additional sections — including laser terrain analysis, Roman roads, and historical land surveys — are available depending on your location. Every report is available as a fully interactive digital report and as a downloadable PDF.

Question 2

Does coverage differ across England, Scotland and Wales?

Accepted Answer

Yes. England, Scotland and Wales each have their own distinct archaeological and historical records, and your report draws on whichever are available for your specific location. Some sections — including interactive finds mapping and laser terrain analysis — are not available for all locations in Scotland and Wales. Every report clearly shows which sections apply to your area, so you always know exactly what your report contains.

Question 3

Are find locations shown on the map?

Accepted Answer

For locations in England and Wales, recorded finds are plotted on the interactive map at the centre of their recorded grid reference. Most are accurate to within 100 metres of the actual find spot. Some finders choose to record at reduced precision — this is standard practice and is designed to protect sensitive sites. For locations in Scotland, finds are recorded through a different national system and are not plotted on the interactive map in the same way.

Question 4

How long does a report take?

Accepted Answer

Aubrey typically completes a report within a few minutes of you confirming your search. You can watch the progress in real time on screen, or navigate away — we will email you the moment your report is ready to read.

Question 5

Will more features be added to my report?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Aubrey Research is continually expanding the depth and range of each report. As new sections and features become available, all existing customers will be notified. For 12 months from your report date, any new sections added to your report type will be included at no extra charge — buying a report today means you benefit from everything Aubrey adds tomorrow.

Question 6

What if my location has very little recorded history?

Accepted Answer

If Aubrey is unable to generate a meaningful report for your location — for example if the area has very limited recorded data — we will automatically identify this and issue a full refund. We will never charge you for a report that does not deliver genuine value.

Question 7

Is my payment secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All payments are processed by Stripe, one of the world's most trusted payment providers. You are taken to Stripe's secure hosted payment page to complete your purchase — Aubrey Research never sees, stores or has access to your card details at any point. Our website is also protected by SSL encryption, which means all data passed between your browser and our servers is fully encrypted. You will see a padlock in your browser address bar confirming this.

Question 8

Do reports expire?

Accepted Answer

No. Every report is saved to your account permanently and will never be deleted. Aubrey Research monitors how recently the records in your area have been updated — if significant new data has been added since your report was generated, you will see a notification in your account.

Question 9

What happens if I buy a Single Report and want to upgrade?

Accepted Answer

For 24 hours after your first report is delivered, you will receive a time-limited offer to upgrade to Explorer at a discounted rate. This offer appears once and is not repeated.

Question 10

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

If Aubrey is unable to generate a meaningful report for your location, we will automatically issue a full refund. If you have a question about a specific report, contact us at hello@aubreyresearch.com.

Question 11

Do group discount codes expire?

Accepted Answer

Group discount codes are tied to an active group subscription. While the subscription is active, the code remains valid for members to use. If the subscription lapses, the code becomes inactive.

Question 12

Is there an institutional or academic licence?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Universities, archaeology units and other institutions can arrange an annual licence with invoice billing. Contact us at hello@aubreyresearch.com to discuss your requirements.

Question 13

Do I need to create an account before I start?

Accepted Answer

No. You create your account as part of the process of generating your first report — there is nothing to set up in advance. Enter your location, tailor your report, and when you click Generate you will be prompted to create an account and complete payment. Your report is then saved to your account automatically.

Question 14

Can I share my account with someone else?

Accepted Answer

Accounts are personal to the individual who registered. If you want to share access across a detecting club or history group, our Group subscription gives every member their own full account.

Question 15

Can I download my report?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every report is available as a downloadable PDF. The download button appears on your report once all sections have loaded. Your reports are also saved to your account permanently and can be re-downloaded at any time.

Question 16

I am a metal detectorist — is this right for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Aubrey Research was built with metal detectorists in mind. When you select the detectorist report type, your report includes target zones identifying the most promising areas based on all available evidence, legal and access information including scheduled monuments and SSSIs, finds guidance, and Finds Liaison Officer contact details for your area. The same comprehensive research — presented for how you actually use it.

Question 17

I am a local historian — is this right for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you select the local history report type, your report emphasises historical significance, archive sources, period analysis and places of historical interest rather than target zones. The same databases, the same depth — presented differently.

Question 18

What is a scheduled monument?

Accepted Answer

A scheduled monument is a nationally protected archaeological or historic site. It is illegal to use a metal detector on or near a scheduled monument without explicit written permission from the relevant national authority. Your report clearly identifies all scheduled monuments within your search area.

Question 19

What should I do if I find something significant?

Accepted Answer

If you find an object that may qualify as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 — broadly, any find over 300 years old containing precious metal, or prehistoric base-metal assemblages — you are legally required to report it to your local coroner within 14 days. Your Finds Liaison Officer can help you through the process. Your Aubrey report includes their contact details.

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