Professional Archeologists Hoard Finds

In the United Kingdom heritage writer John Howland describes an appalling state of affairs, a BBC investigation has uncovered a secret stash of artefacts hoarded by archeologists ('Professional Vandalism – And Not a Detector in Sight!'):

Britain’s archaeologists are apparently world leaders when it comes to maltreating artifacts. This depressing lack of an efficient recording and classification system makes that which is happening in Egypt look almost regimented. That hundreds of thousands of precious artifacts hoiked from excavations by ‘archaeologists’ [...] are languishing unrecorded and unclassified, is nothing short of a national disgrace. Heads must roll. 

One estimate says up to 24 container loads of archeological objects are being stored by private companies.  Mr Howland suggests that the archeologists' campaign against private collecting is a concerted behind the scenes effort to create a damage-limitation diversion.  He points to a total silence from other writers on the heritage in Britain and the governing bodies of British archeology and museums.

heritage matters are of such vital importance they MUST NOT be left in the hands of people who simply can’t cut the heritage mustard. If ever there was a case for archaeology as a whole being legislatively bound to report their activities to a body that can actually do the business, then PAS is precisely the organisation to do it. Tax-payers hard-earned money has been squandered by the millions on ‘archaeology’ and which now ought to be diverted away from incompetent ‘archaeology ‘and ploughed into the PAS to ensure nothing like this scandal ever happens again to our heritage. What will the Minister responsible make of it? [...] 

Mr Howland urges all who care about the past get in touch with the UK's Minister for Culture, Media and Sport and make sure that she spends the money in her trust to the ultimate public benefit. I think collectors everywhere should be supporting this initiative and giving the PAS a boost:

If you believe that public money ought to be diverted from ‘archaeology’ and into a scheme to reduce the hundreds of thousands of artifacts piling-up every day in unsuitable warehouses and storage facilities, then make you views known to the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Maria Miller at:- Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ. Tel: 020 7211 6000. Or email at: – enquiries@culture.gov.uk marked ‘For the attention of the Rt Hon Maria Miller MP.’