EXPERTS are pouring scorn on the findings of an archaeologist who says he has discovered a Roman fort in Furness.

Eight specialists wrote a joint letter to the magazine British Archaeology rubbishing Steve Dickinson’s claims about his dig at Urswick.

One of them, archaeologist Ben Johnson from Newcastle University, was site manager during last year’s Furness dig and has not been paid his wages.

Mr Johnson said: “There is no evidence that there is a Roman fort on the site at all. There are no walls, trenches or ditches — nothing.”

Mr Dickinson says his finds are significant and are still being processed.

But other experts signing the critical letter, include Cumbria’s county archaeologist Dr Richard Newman and Lake District National Park Authority’s chief archaeologist John Hodgson, brand Mr Dickinson’s claims as “fanciful”.

Mr Dickinson, who runs the First Light Heritage Agency in Ulverston, organised the dig at Urswick’s Glebe field last year.

As well as claiming to have found a Roman fort he said the site could be Bannaventa Berniae, thought to be where Ireland’s patron saint St Patrick was born.

In the damning letter, published in the current May/June issue of British Archaeology, the experts say: “We do not lightly criticise a colleague’s work, but our passion for the archaeology of the North West has left us with little choice.

“The site has produced very few Roman or other finds, and there is no evidence of Roman structures or military presence.”

They add that the St Patrick theory is currently without substance.

The letter states: “We cannot accept a situation in which the public is being misled by somewhat fanciful interpretations, rather than informed by solid evidence derived from reputable fieldwork.”

Mr Johnson revealed Mr Dickinson owes him more than £3,500 for unpaid work.

An employment tribunal in Newcastle last December gave Mr Dickinson until February 24 to pay Mr Johnson £3,509.34 in outstanding wages or face paying interest.

The money is still unpaid and Mr Johnson is considering taking the matter further.

He said: “He owes me £3,500 and counting. I feel like I’ve been taken for a ride.”

University students and local volunteers also helped on the dig.

Mr Johnson said: “He charged students £100-a-week plus accommodation.

“I know the volunteers also felt let down.”

Mr Dickinson maintains that the dig produced some worthwhile finds.

He said: “We showed about 1,000 visitors — many of them local — around the 2005 excavation.

“Of course not everyone had, or will have, the same take on the Urswick site and project as myself. But the majority of visitors were intrigued, asked thoughtful questions, and were very supportive of our work.

“Large archaeological projects produce large amounts of evidence — all of which takes a lot of time to process through scientific analyses, illustration and writing.

“We aim to produce a report on our 2004/5 projects later this year, or in 2007.

“Our income from UK student volunteers amounted to approximately £4,500. This sum was spent on project administration, equipment, and services, including food for students.

“As part of their training we completed personal assessment forms — confirming their tuition and their capabilities — for their university departments. If their departments were not satisfied with our tuition we would have received a rocket from them.”

Despite the tribunal judgment, Mr Dickinson denied that he was late in paying Mr Johnson.

He said: “Ben Johnson worked for us last summer, having first signed a contract agreeing that his salary would be paid in installments in arrears.

“The balance of his outstanding salary will be paid by mid June.”