7th June 2007, 11:30 PM
A lot of osteologists have been raising concerns about this over the last few days. The situation still needs to be clarified and BABAO, the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, have made a representation to the Ministry of Justice, as have EH and the IFA. If you need advice talk to your EH regional science advisor or the Ministry of Justice Burials Team.
From what I can gather most osteologists are able to contine working by contacting the relevant local authorities in writing. A letter to the local police station, who then forward the information to the coroners office, will alert them to the situation and (hopefully)prevent any complications. One unit has informed the Ministry of Justice that "for practical reasons we would retain the remains above ground until the legal issues can be fully resolved."
Personally I think that is the most sensible approach as it would rarely be possible to arrange to "rebury the remains in sealed containers capable of preserving them effectively for scientific examination at some later date" as the MoJ statement on the IFA website suggests. This would of course entail additional cost implications and I can't imagine that the law will not allow for retention and osteological analysis in the future.
However, nobody actually seems to know at the moment what is legal and what is not, so individuals and units involved in the excavation and analysis of human remains are being advised to seek independent legal advice to avoid prosecution.
Hopefully the situation will be resolved very soon!
D
I dig dead people
From what I can gather most osteologists are able to contine working by contacting the relevant local authorities in writing. A letter to the local police station, who then forward the information to the coroners office, will alert them to the situation and (hopefully)prevent any complications. One unit has informed the Ministry of Justice that "for practical reasons we would retain the remains above ground until the legal issues can be fully resolved."
Personally I think that is the most sensible approach as it would rarely be possible to arrange to "rebury the remains in sealed containers capable of preserving them effectively for scientific examination at some later date" as the MoJ statement on the IFA website suggests. This would of course entail additional cost implications and I can't imagine that the law will not allow for retention and osteological analysis in the future.
However, nobody actually seems to know at the moment what is legal and what is not, so individuals and units involved in the excavation and analysis of human remains are being advised to seek independent legal advice to avoid prosecution.
Hopefully the situation will be resolved very soon!
D
I dig dead people