Burial Archaeology permissions

[BAJR]

Just thought I would try and get the definitive approach, given that a few years have a past, so people will have got used to it.

(ps... I realise already that the discovery of unexpected human remains outwith a burial ground must be reported to the police as well. )

Here are two scenarios : and my answer

1) I intend to excavate a Bronze Age burial mound with the express intention of gathering human material for destructive scientific analysis, I will not be taking more than required and the rest of the body will remain.

I get permission before excavation and the 2 year retention rule cannot apply as their is nothing to rebury.

2) I intend to excavate a mound which I think is a clearance cairn but the client thinks is a burial mound - during the excavation we do uncover human remains.

I immediately apply for a licence from MoJ explaining how they were uncovered.


Do people have any experience of the length of time that these actions take?

:face-huh:

[P Prentice]

Just thought I would try and get the definitive approach, given that a few years have a past, so people will have got used to it.

(ps... I realise already that the discovery of unexpected human remains outwith a burial ground must be reported to the police as well. )

Here are two scenarios : and my answer

1) I intend to excavate a Bronze Age burial mound with the express intention of gathering human material for destructive scientific analysis, I will not be taking more than required and the rest of the body will remain.

I get permission before excavation and the 2 year retention rule cannot apply as their is nothing to rebury.

2) I intend to excavate a mound which I think is a clearance cairn but the client thinks is a burial mound - during the excavation we do uncover human remains.

I immediately apply for a licence from MoJ explaining how they were uncovered.


Do people have any experience of the length of time that these actions take?

:face-huh:

you can usually get a licence in a day or two if you are a reputable authority

[kevin wooldridge]

Certainly under the old Home Office regime I could ring up the nice lady and get a faxed copy of a licence within an hour with the original copy arriving by post within a day or so. Not so sure that the MoJ is so efficient...

[Dinosaur]

Certainly under the old Home Office regime I could ring up the nice lady and get a faxed copy of a licence within an hour with the original copy arriving by post within a day or so. Not so sure that the MoJ is so efficient...

Same experience here

[Bigpicture]

I've covered a few burial sites recently, mostly p-med, and whether in advance or once on site MoJ generally turn around licence within 24 hours.

[BAJR]

That is good news. Seems like the furour was not as bad as it seemed.

But would you get a licence before or if and when you found a burial. even a 24 hour delay could cost?

[P Prentice]

if you think you will be encountering burials you should get one in advance - the process is the same anyway

Mr Sunil Patel
Coroners and Burials Division
Civil, Family and Legal Aid Division
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London SW1H 9AJ
T: 020 3334 6390
F: 020 3334 2233
E: sunil.patel@justice.gsi.gov.uk

[kevin wooldridge]

I always used to write in DBAs the necessity to obtain a burial licence in advance of archaeological works where burials might be suspected, to avoid any potential delay. I don't think in 20 years one single developer/consultant/client/contractor took up the offer...!!

[BAJR]

Plus... would the MoJ not need a good reason for the removal of a burial to grant permission - in research excavation for example where the only threat to the body is the archaeologist?

[Kel]

I don't think that human remains being under threat, is the only reason that the MoJ would grant a licence.

Is "research" not a good reason? That's presumably why *anything* is dug up on a research excavation. The project plan must already contain formal research justification, in order to have won funding.