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Of all the new sites I've listed only two have been given questionable names - Smallhenge and the Real Manchester University. The statutory body for investigating archaeological discoveries in Bolton is the County Archaeology Unit, which is unusually administrated by the University of Manchester. Not only do they refuse to go out to look at the new sites they also forbid me to notify them of them - they have threatened to put their lawyers onto me if I do. It's quite an unusual situation but one which is very familiar to a whistleblower. I've published various articles in the local history newsletters and the people interested in local history accept that I've found a stack of sites. The combination of sites - have a look at GoogleMap - is very powerful - it's not just one potential barrow it's a shedload. If this picture ( http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/53634 ) really shows the undisturbed revetment of a longbarrow then it's of international significance. (The Toothells name was originated by a primary schoolteacher of mine who was the local historian and who later published his book of Bolton placenames).

And so on.

Horrocks Moor Barrow will do fine, but I like the idea of Google finding 'Manchester University' and sidetracking students to the site page.

"The statutory body for investigating archaeological discoveries in Bolton is the County Archaeology Unit, which is unusually administrated by the University of Manchester. Not only do they refuse to go out to look at the new sites they also forbid me to notify them of them - they have threatened to put their lawyers onto me if I do."

So are they saying they have a statutory duty to investigate, and sending them duds is wasting official time? Sort of "Vexatious Notification"?!

Excellent!

Not sure there's an actionable cause there, even if you were doing it maliciously. But as you're doing it in good faith there's not a snowball's chance in hell a lawyer would advise them they have a case.

Apart from which, their Case would require an archaeologist to stand up and say "this is NOT a prehistoric site". As to that happening, see the Silbaby discussion ;)

Send 'em some more. Send 'em a dozen. If they spend public funds on a lawyer send the whole file to the ombudsman citing maladministration.

I've raised a poll just for you:

http://community.channel4.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=162603557&f=8896096411&m=1220082586&r=1220082586#1220082586