13th March 2011, 12:26 PM
Is your version of the facts the correct one (i.e. that this is actually related to the opposition to a planned development and the local residents who are supposedly in uproar actually misrepresented the facts, trespassed and interfered with the graves and the tarpaulin etc themselves - something that seems contemptably hypocritical and disrespectful)?
If it is then this constitutes an attack on archaeology and leaves all of us open to this kind of manipulation. As such I believe a number of us should write to the various media concerned to either question the facts or complain at the misrepresentation and the slight on archaeologists.
It is entirely fair to question archaeological best practise if the public are concerned about the treatment of, for instance, human remains, but to take advantage and deceive people on this matter for what amounts to financially motivated reasons should be met with a robust response from the archaeological community, in some form or another.
That said, perhaps it isn't wise to stir up a storm where one didn't already exist. Has anyone heard of any feedback from members of the non-archaeological public about this story or has it gone largely unnoticed?
If it is then this constitutes an attack on archaeology and leaves all of us open to this kind of manipulation. As such I believe a number of us should write to the various media concerned to either question the facts or complain at the misrepresentation and the slight on archaeologists.
It is entirely fair to question archaeological best practise if the public are concerned about the treatment of, for instance, human remains, but to take advantage and deceive people on this matter for what amounts to financially motivated reasons should be met with a robust response from the archaeological community, in some form or another.
That said, perhaps it isn't wise to stir up a storm where one didn't already exist. Has anyone heard of any feedback from members of the non-archaeological public about this story or has it gone largely unnoticed?