23rd February 2006, 11:17 PM
from the Virtual-Lancaster website, about the recently discovered Roman tombstone and the plans that the developer has to sell it to the highest bidder to cover the costs of the excavation. Opinions please?
16/2/06: Council leader Ian Barker has stepped into controversy over the Roman gravestone recently found in Lancaster during the building of a block of flats, which property developer Chris Tudor Wheelan is proposing to auction at Sotheby's, suggesting it might raise almost ?58,000.
The Times reported last week that Britain might lose the arefact, which depicts a mounted trooper holding a sword and the head of a man he has just killed, archaeologists say is a unique find, to an overseas buyer.
Councillor Barker has now written to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, asking her to refuse an export licence if this happens.
The gravestone, which has been dated to 1st or early 2nd century, is currently being dried ot at the County Museum in Preston.
Councillor Barker said that, as far as the City Council was concerned, planning permission was granted with archaeological conditions attached. There was an obligation in the development agreement not to dispose of any important archaeological finds.
"No one could have anticipated finding a stone of such significance," says Councillor Barker, "but it was known that this could be an important archaeological site.
" Planning permission was only granted on condition that a proper archaeological investigation was carried out. The costs of this should have been built into the development, so its more than a little opportunistic to seek to recover them just because something really important has been found."
"This stone is an important relic of Lancaster's Roman past," says Coun Barker. "In my view it should stay in Lancaster and the public should be able to see it. It shouldn't be sold into a private collection or sent abroad. I will certainly be asking officers of the City and the County Councils to do all they can to enforce the obligations attached to the planning consent."
"I've asked Tessa Jowell to refuse an export licence if this is sold abroad, so that we have a chance to keep the gravestone in Lancaster."
Mr Whelan told the Morecambe Visitor this week that he has invested a lot in Lancaster and he was not looking to sell off its heritage.
"But I would like to cover my costs," he told the paper. "I had to pay a total of about ?39,000 to have the digs completed under the planning regulations and, with the delay to the building that resulted, I reckon it's cost me about ?50,000, which is a lot to recoup.
"I've already been contacted by someone who offered to buy it as long as it remained in Lancaster," he added, "and that's what I'd like to happen ? but we'll have to see what develops."
++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++
16/2/06: Council leader Ian Barker has stepped into controversy over the Roman gravestone recently found in Lancaster during the building of a block of flats, which property developer Chris Tudor Wheelan is proposing to auction at Sotheby's, suggesting it might raise almost ?58,000.
The Times reported last week that Britain might lose the arefact, which depicts a mounted trooper holding a sword and the head of a man he has just killed, archaeologists say is a unique find, to an overseas buyer.
Councillor Barker has now written to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, asking her to refuse an export licence if this happens.
The gravestone, which has been dated to 1st or early 2nd century, is currently being dried ot at the County Museum in Preston.
Councillor Barker said that, as far as the City Council was concerned, planning permission was granted with archaeological conditions attached. There was an obligation in the development agreement not to dispose of any important archaeological finds.
"No one could have anticipated finding a stone of such significance," says Councillor Barker, "but it was known that this could be an important archaeological site.
" Planning permission was only granted on condition that a proper archaeological investigation was carried out. The costs of this should have been built into the development, so its more than a little opportunistic to seek to recover them just because something really important has been found."
"This stone is an important relic of Lancaster's Roman past," says Coun Barker. "In my view it should stay in Lancaster and the public should be able to see it. It shouldn't be sold into a private collection or sent abroad. I will certainly be asking officers of the City and the County Councils to do all they can to enforce the obligations attached to the planning consent."
"I've asked Tessa Jowell to refuse an export licence if this is sold abroad, so that we have a chance to keep the gravestone in Lancaster."
Mr Whelan told the Morecambe Visitor this week that he has invested a lot in Lancaster and he was not looking to sell off its heritage.
"But I would like to cover my costs," he told the paper. "I had to pay a total of about ?39,000 to have the digs completed under the planning regulations and, with the delay to the building that resulted, I reckon it's cost me about ?50,000, which is a lot to recoup.
"I've already been contacted by someone who offered to buy it as long as it remained in Lancaster," he added, "and that's what I'd like to happen ? but we'll have to see what develops."
++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++
