Very interesting. Thanks, stenicplus. I now avoid TV shows such as 'Time Team' which served a useful purpose once, but, as always happens with TV shows, has become a parody of itself.
There seems something unsettling in the desecration of graves that have gone undisturbed – sometimes for thousands of years – just to provide couch potato entertainment in the gaps between the 'no win no fee' lawyer adverts and cheap insurance promotions.
Whilst, without knowing more, I wouldn't necessarily agree with where CWGC and the Belgian courts have agreed to draw the line, that 'respect' is being given a proper place alongside the media's assumed right to film and photograph everything seems like progress.
I perfectly take bsrlee's point about forensic archaeology, and certainly wouldn't take issue with genuine historical/archaeological/military investigative work … but I suspect that work is unlikely to be being inhibited here.
I am also not sure that this policy does sanitise history (as seemed to be the point in the Paul Reed quote) – with the WWI centenaries less than 2 years off, it is a timely thought (there will be a lot more media attention – both 'worthy' and entertainment – coming our way …) …
Phil
