> Your remarks are therefore somewhat Naive and I have to say unfair if not
> offensive to the 1000's of participants in their chosen hobby


Oh I can assure you they are not naive at all, in my time as President of
the French National Archaeological Mines and Metallurgy Association
(1998-2001)I have seen and had to deal with the grave damages done to
archaeological remains underground by so-called safari-speleo groups ;
whilst it is true that the most obvious damage is done by mineralos, and
treasure-trove hunters, just penetration into unexplored underground
workings by non-specialist cavers will eradicate sensitive remains.

As Peter says, over here in France all mines are archaeological heritage as
such, and several widely-discussed test cases before the courts in the 80s
have established this fact in regard to cavers and mineralos actions. That
is why they are continually denigrating mining archaeology as they are
seeking to overturn this legal status, which not only covers the underground
but also surface remains and even spoil heaps, which often contain valuable
archaeological evidence.

I would suggest that cavers really ought not to be shouting too loudly over
the rooftops about their activiites underground ; the longer they remain
discrete and can produce scientific results (and I dont mean enthusiast
guidebooks) the longer they may be able to continue their pastime.

And I'm afraid from what I have seen by the activities underground of those
working on clearing out parties (Alderley Edge, Derbyshire, Nenthead, etc)
that the archaeological surveillance of this work was nil ; and the way
these works was being carried out would not be permitted in France, where
the State finances mining archaeology (often in conjunction with European
development funding where valorisation is linked to the scientific results),
where it is to be carried out by recognised mining archaeologists and not
groups of non-specialised enthusiasts working without any adequate
scientific supervision.

Ian Cowburn
Conservateur, Mines d'Argent du Fournel
F-05120 L'Argentière-la-Bessée

President, Association Archéologique Française pour l'Etude des Mines et de
la Métallurgie, 1998-2001