让先民的尸体入土为安

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Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古学家) says. I a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.

“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 wee led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”

The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.

72. According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because _________.

A. it is only a temporary measure on the human remains

B. it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research

C. it was introduced by the government without their knowledge

D. it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains

73. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.

B. Human remains of the oldest species wee dug out at Happisburgh.

C. Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.

D. Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.

74. What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?

A. The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.

B. The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.

C. The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.

D. The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.

75. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.

B. Research time should be extended, scientists require.

C. Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.

D. Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archaeologists warn.

“古代居民区的人类遗骸在一部法律之下将重新入土而与科学研究失之交臂，这部法律将会损害英国对人类历史的研究。”一组知名的考古学家这样说。在一封写给司法秘书Ken Clarke的信件中，40位考古学家对这个问题表达了“深切而广泛的关切”。问题的焦点在一部2008年由司法部颁布的法律上，这部法律规定：所有在英格兰或威尔士出土的人类遗骸无论其年代都必须在两年之类入土埋葬。这种决定意味着科学家几乎没有时间来研究遗骨和其他遗物的重大的民族和文化价值。
   “你们现在要求无论是在标准的两年期限还是特别延长期之后，所有发考古掘出土的的人类遗骸都应该重新埋葬。这是与考古和科学研究以及博物馆运作的基本原则相悖的。”他们写道。
这部法律适用于将近400个发掘点尚未出土的遗骨，包括于2008年在Stonehenge 发现的大约60具遗体的其它遗物——这些遗体可以追溯到公元前3000年。考古学家已被授予暂时的延长期以获取更多的时间，但最终这些遗骨将会重新入土。
   这种举措可能会导致发掘点（如Norfolk的Happisburgh）未来出土物的浪费。在Happisburgh, 已经发现了950000年前早期人类制作的石器，那里的发掘正在进行。如果在Happisburgh发现人类的遗骸，那将是北欧最早的人类遗骸，并且将会第一次表明其所属人种。如果当前这部法律实施的话，这些遗骸将会重新埋葬，而且实际上会被损毁。
    在2008年之前，法律准则允许对年代久远的遗骨和历史遗迹进行适度的保存和研究，而《1857号埋葬法案》则适用于较为近代的遗骸。两年前司法部向考古学家保证这部法律只是临时的，但是到目前为止仍没有修正它。
Mike Parker Pearson是Sheffield大学的一名考古学家，他说：“我们已经保持了极度的耐心因为我们宁可相信司法部正在处理这个问题，但是我们觉得我们不能再等下去了。”
对于遗骸将埋在何地、怎样埋葬以及应该作什么记录，司法部都没有给出指导准则。

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