How hard can it be for the government to stop its Brexit dithering for a moment and remove the planning blight surrounding EU research funding (‘We haven’t got a plan B’: Academics race to safeguard research amid Brexit fears, 16 October)? Archaeology may deal in timescales of many thousands of years but the crisis looming in two years’ time threatens to sweep away our status as a world leader in deep history.

The value of our EU funding is not just monetary. In its explicit support for blue-skies research, it is a rare funding resource. It encourages archaeologists to explore the potential of cutting-edge technologies applied to new evidence from the field and museum archives, and all driven by original questions about who we are and where we came from.

The results of this deep human history point to the binding power of connections across continents. Ten thousand years ago a “hard border” could have existed on the isthmus between Dover and Calais. But people moved backwards and forwards into the British peninsula. They have continued to do so whatever the sea level. Only now, it seems, are we to cut ourselves off from our past.

Professor Clive Gamble

President of the Prehistoric Society

• Indeed the outlook for UK-based research is worrying in the light of Brexit. And, yes, British Academy work has shown that the humanities and social sciences are particularly vulnerable as the European Research Council targets curiosity-driven research by talented individuals and teams. Alas, we cannot take for granted close association with Horizon Europe, the next EU programme to be developed.

Much remains to be decided as to whether a form of association will emerge that would enable UK-based researchers to lead research teams and not merely be research assistants. Let us be under no illusion – we must develop a persuasive vision for our contribution to the process and not just go cap-in-hand to Brussels.

Professor Helen Wallace

Europe liaison chair, British Academy

• Nicola Sturgeon is right to say the UK needs more time (Report, 16 October). However, this should not be once we’ve left the EU (extension of the transition period) but rather when we’re still in it.

Five and a half months is not long enough to convince parliament to debate the idea of a people’s vote and approve it taking place; for a people’s vote to be organised (we hear it took David Cameron’s team six months to set up the EU referendum); for the result of the people’s vote to be debated in parliament; for the court of justice of the European Union to decide if article 50 can be revoked; for parliament to vote to remain, repeal Brexit laws and allow the government to revoke article 50; and for the government to serve the EU with a UK notice of revocation.

So if there’s one thing Britain should be asking Brussels for right now, it’s an extension of the 29 March article 50 deadline: if we leave any extensions until the UK has left the EU, Britain can kiss any hopes of remain goodbye.

Steve Peers Professor of law, University of Essex

Louise Rowntree Rowntree & Associates

• The key to the deadlock on Brexit is to change the metaphors from rounders to cricket. Instead of the backstop for Northern Ireland (The backstop, 16 October) it should be the longstop, only needed when the wicketkeeper (comprehensive trade deal) fails, and therefore not used in first-class cricket.

Kelvin Appleton

Beverley, East Yorkshire

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