In the last issue of The Digger, we published claims that a unit in the south of England had little regard for Health and Safety and machined away stratigraphy and human skeletons without proper recording (see Letters section for more). The IFA are currently investigating the allegations.

Since then, it has emerged this unit isn’t the only one that's being investigated. Buckingham-based Network Archaeology has also been reported to the IFA according to the minutes of Buckinghamshire County Council's Historic Environment Forum. The forum members expressed concerns in March this year that Network Archaeology 'had not fulfilled their publication obligations.'

A revised post-excavation programme was agreed, but by September the outstanding reports had still not appeared. The unit was referred to the IFA, with the threat of 'further sanctions' if the medieval site of Bury Farm in Great Missenden and Roman sites found along the Aylesbury to Steppingly gas pipeline were not published. The fieldwork for the pipeline was finished seven years ago.

Bucks CC have also had problems with Tempus Reparatum which went bankrupt before fieldwork back in 1996 at a prehistoric site at Little Marlow and a Bronze Age and Saxon settlement at Bierton could be published.

What do you think about a hotline?? If you see a case of bad practice - would you like to be able to phone the IFA or BAJR to let them know in confidence... we could then official inform the County Curator who could make an unannounced visit... what do you think??

Go to BAJR noticeboard and discuss or email BAJR or teh Digger Direct..... info@bajr.org