2 October 1994

Sunday Times, 2 October 1994

BRITISH EXPERT BACKS SACKED UNI MAN

A British expert has questioned the University of WA's
sacking of archaeologist Dr David Rindos.

Cambridge University archaeologist Professor Lord Renfrew
wrote to UWA vice-chancellor Professor Fay Gale in February
saying the dismissal had caused disquiet.

Lord Renfrew's letter was obtained by Dr Rindos through a
Freedom of Information request.

Dr Rindos was refused tenure last year after two inquiries
into the running of UWA's archaeology department.

Lord Renfrew said in his letter to Professor Gale that her
decision to sack Dr Rindos had caused concern in the
academic world. 

"For that reasons, I feel I should write to express my
disquiet, as a prehistoric archaeologist interested in
world archaeological themes and also interested in the
welfare of archaeology in Australia, that tenure has been
denied to Dr Rindos on what I understand are academic
ground," he said.

"He is a well-respected scholar of international reputation
and I have to say that the report, if correct, occasions
considerable surprise.

"If it were the case that the University of WA denied
tenure to a respected scholar on academic grounds,
particularly if there were a suspicion of underlying
factors which were not adequately recognised, that might be
a set-back to the good reputation of your institution."

Lord Renfrew's letter joined more than 50 earlier letters
of support from international archaeologists.

Dr Rindos, an American, has stayed on in Perth unemployed
since his dismissal.