“Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.

　　The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.

　　The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.

　　Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.

　　Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said, “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”

【决胜高考 2016高考英语黄金30题：专题02 新题精选30题（学生版）】相关文章：

★ 重庆市2014高考英语阅读理解一轮（精品）训练题（15）附答案

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题09 科技发明话题指导（学生版）

★ 2017年高考英语二轮复习精品资料：专题14 阅读理解（押题专练）（原卷版）

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题10 旅游探险类话题指导（学生版）

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题14 社会交际类话题指导（学生版）

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习必修2参考答案（外研版）

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题08 健康饮食话题指导（学生版）

★ 重庆市2014高考英语阅读理解一轮（精品）训练题（22）附答案

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题20 校园学习话题指导（学生版）

★ 重庆市2014高考英语阅读理解一轮（精品）训练题（7）附答案