A researcher has filed a judicial protest against the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, complaining that he was not being given access to data.

Mark Camilleri, a masters graduate in arts history, said he had requested the superintendence to give him a list of archaeological items dated from 800 to 1400AD and the source of those items, but the superintendence had refused, saying the information was part of scientific research that had not yet been concluded.

The same information had been given to a former deputy director of the superintendence who, Mr Camilleri said, was using it to back his mistaken claim that there was a continuation in the population in Malta in mediaeval times after the Arab occupation of AD870-71.

Mr Camilleri requested immediate access to the data.

Dr Andrew Sciberras signed the judicial protest.