Need Help with Ethical Dilemma.....

[Jason in Enid]

The town is now required by state law to go in and clear the graveyard. We will leave details of finding the markers to the town. We have no interest whatsoever of going in and detecting, but if they request us to go in again, we will do so ONLY if the headstone areas are known, and ONLY if it is a last resort to find the military markers.

Which means the ground you refused to search will now be torn apart by backhoes as they search for every unknown grave there. The city will spend tens of thousands, move the graves (and probably still miss some), and all the relics and coins lost over the years will be lost forever.

 

[Rudy]

Which means the ground you refused to search will now be torn apart by backhoes as they search for every unknown grave there. The city will spend tens of thousands, move the graves (and probably still miss some), and all the relics and coins lost over the years will be lost forever.

And your point is?

 

[~Alan~]

.....................And is it ok to dig up our bodies after a certain period of time? Steve in so az

That's a point that is often raised over here on televised digs, when they find remains.

Not an easy one to answer, but my view is, if the remains don't need to be moved, leave them where they are.
If the dig is to clear the way for a new construction, that's different.

I don't think I would dig anywhere near a cemetery.

 

[noob2mding01]

why not ?

i say go ahead. its just the perim. i can tell you want to and i know your dieing inside to go do it. your not disrespecting anyones final resting place. infact... your honoring it. i would feel honored if someone found something someone left for me. it would last longer and be appreciated in a way i couldnt do... since im passed and what not lol. so dont have guilty feelings and do your diggin. again... its the perim... not the actual cemetary. oh and one more thing.. should look for the old wagon trail they took in.. that will be excellent...

 

[Snowy]

Which means the ground you refused to search will now be torn apart by backhoes as they search for every unknown grave there. The city will spend tens of thousands, move the graves (and probably still miss some), and all the relics and coins lost over the years will be lost forever.

They're not going to tear it apart with backhoes.
We suggested an area boy scout group be sought to cut the saplings and brush. It'll be easier to determine where each grave is.

They are still trying to determine where the headstones are, and an old document labelling who is buried in what plot is also being sought. So far there hasn't been any luck. They plan to reset the headstones and keep the graveyard maintained.

 

[Cherry Picker]

Forget the ethical issues for now and think about the legal issues.

We get away with pulling valuables/relics from most sites because they mostly fit into the lost items covered under the finders keepers law. That is because the stuff we find was indeed lost. Most items found at a grave site would have been placed there ON PURPOSE which makes it stealing.

 

[Vlad]

There are these things called common sense, moral values, respect to others.
If those are unfamiliar to you than hunting cemeteries is a great idea!
Be sure to film it and post it on youtube, don't forget to add your name and address and all the loot that you find.

 

[Ill Digger]

There are these things called common sense, moral values, respect to others.
If those are unfamiliar to you than hunting cemeteries is a great idea!
Be sure to film it and post it on youtube, don't forget to add your name and address and all the loot that you find.

I agree !
You wouldn't catch me dead around...wait a minute...you know what I mean!HAHAHA!
I'll find some where else to hunt!

 

[Beefcake]

"Most items found at a grave site would have been placed there ON PURPOSE which makes it stealing."

Exactly! Use your head... It's things like this that lead to states Banning Metal detecting on public property... It's simple... If you seek the advice of others in the hobby (You get one ignorance plea), and choose to disregard the ethics behind it...Perhaps there is a better place for you and a better hobby to persue. Perhaps you could get a job at a funeral home and slide the rings off the corpse while the casket is being closed out of sight of the family... People lay stuff on grave sites all the time and yes... YOU ARE STEALING!!!

 

[SueLue80]

Forget the ethical issues for now and think about the legal issues.

We get away with pulling valuables/relics from most sites because they mostly fit into the lost items covered under the finders keepers law. That is because the stuff we find was indeed lost. Most items found at a grave site would have been placed there ON PURPOSE which makes it stealing.

"Most items found at a grave site would have been placed there ON PURPOSE which makes it stealing."

Exactly! Use your head... It's things like this that lead to states Banning Metal detecting on public property... It's simple... If you seek the advice of others in the hobby (You get one ignorance plea), and choose to disregard the ethics behind it...Perhaps there is a better place for you and a better hobby to persue. Perhaps you could get a job at a funeral home and slide the rings off the corpse while the casket is being closed out of sight of the family... People lay stuff on grave sites all the time and yes... YOU ARE STEALING!!!

Once again...he would be on the PERIMETER ONLY...where the family who owns the plot has brought in dirt from their HOME.....not on the graves where people place the gifts for their loved one

 

[Ill Digger]

I just realized how old this thread is

 

[noob2mding01]

keep in mind... like the man said.. its the perim.. not the actual graveyard.... everyone is hung up on the graveyard. hes just swinging the outside land... whats the big deal? i dont understand why people get so riled about things. do you even realize that most grave sites are leased and not own... that means that the cemetary has the right to pull your body out and throw it away after x many years. if you think swinging an md next to one is disrespectful... well what do you think about that ?

 

[GiGi]

Consider every cemetary is different

Wow! What a topic. If you type "cemetary" into the search space, you will come up with many posts, such as this one. Everyone has the right to their opinions. I agree with alot of you, HOWEVER, the person writing this post asked about searching the perimeter, with permission, for an OLD cemetary that had only old graves. I think that each situation is different.
I was given permission for hunting an old cemetary in Pennsylvania, and I wasn't even trying to hunt it, my daughter-in-law asked the caretaker, without my knowledge. The cemetary was in the middle of a little town, and happened to be a few feet from my son's house. There was no way I was going to hunt it. I had fun hunting in their backyard, though.
I don't see the big deal about hunting around the borders of old cemetaries that are in old rural areas, no new graves ever to be dug, and you have permission. There are always going to be people without ethics digging up relics in all kinds of places, and giving their fellow MD'ers a bad name for a multitude of reasons, from leaving huge holes to digging on Federal Civil War property. Just remember, YOU are the one that has to live with your own actions. 'Nuff said!

 

[GiGi]

PS

PS....... I don't think there are too many Archieologists that work for free. They have to get paid for digging up relics from somebody!

 

[Rudy]

Wow! What a topic. If you type "cemetary" into the search space, you will come up with many posts, such as this one. Everyone has the right to their opinions. I agree with alot of you, HOWEVER, the person writing this post asked about searching the perimeter, with permission, for an OLD cemetary that had only old graves. I think that each situation is different.

I agree Gigi. It is also worth pointing out that the original poster made the post back in August 2007 and the last time he logged into the forum was on 11-10-07. And here we are still discussing it and learning from each other. Isn't the internet wonderful?

 

[Tarvin21]

Good discussion for being from a necro post

When digging around a cemetery, how close is too close? 100 ft? 100 yards? Within sight?

The first site I ever MD'd was a tot lot across the street from a cemetery that dates to the 1800's...maybe 100-120 yards away.