Detecting Cemetaries Morals Issues

[Prodigy]

I dont know about anyone else but to me a cemetary seems like a good place to detect but something about disturbing the deads ground seems to be itmmoral. Does anyone else feel this way or should I feel free to detect in cemetaries?

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

First let me say welcome to the forum.
I think we should not detect cemeteries.
Let those folks rest in peace. Loved ones pay for that small piece of land, and most would not want strangers detecting there.
Next if you stop and think about it, the finds would be minimal. When someone dies a handful of people go to the grave side service and they stand there for a bit then leave. After that just a few folks visit the grave once in a while.
Those are my thoughts!

God bless.

 

[Hank68]

Welcome to the forum, I agree with Mike, there are off limits! HHH

 

[marcomo]

Next if you stop and think about it, the finds would be minimal. When someone dies a handful of people go to the grave side service and they stand there for a bit then leave. After that just a few folks visit the grave once in a while.

Mike, your logic makes sense only in modern terms. You're right about most cemeteries nowadays, there is not that much traffic by the grave site after the deceased is buried.

However, this was not the case many years ago. In the days before the internet, cell phones, TV, radio, movies, etc, entertainment choices were a lot more limited. In the early part of the 20th century and before, it was quite common for entire families to bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it at the cemetery.

I know many will disagree, but cemetery detecting does not bother me from a moral or ethical standpoint because I don't feel you are disrespecting the dead. The items you are looking for were dropped by the living.

That being said, personally I DO NOT AND WILL NEVER detect cemeteries simply because it is so frowned upon by the public at large. You look like a grave robber to many who observe you. A person who detects cemeteries is giving the hobby a black eye as surely as someone who leaves divots in a park. Also, in most cases, a cemetery plot of land is purchased and is private property.

I realize this is the Christian forum, but I imagine many of us would be thinking less than Christian thoughts if we came upon someone detecting at our family plot.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

By the way welcome. Hope folks agree and don't detect these small pieces of private property.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

n/t

 

[Sailorman]

Another issue is permission. That is not public property so you have to get permission or you are trespassing. On top of that I agree with the above statements. You won't find me there!

 

[SeniorSeeker]

Metal detecting, in cemeteries, is both a legal and moral issue. In today's world, very little respect is given to the living let alone the dead. As a member of a metal detecting community at large, I will not ... under any circumstances ... go metal detecting in a cemetery and will do everything humanly possible to discourage anyone else from doing so.

P.S. I'd like to find the guy that's leaving big divots in our city parks. I've spoken with the parks director, as well as daily workers, and they all know it's not a club member doing the dirty deed but they're unhappy none the less. This guy is giving metal detecting a bad name not to mention he's the fuel that fans the fire to stop metal detecting, in the city parks altogether. I've done all I can do to encourage the powers that be to continue allowing metal detecting within the city parks. When I find this guy, he's likely going to get a piece of my mind!

 

[steve in so la]

many museums around the world are filled with plundered treasures from burial sites. Do we have a time period that it's ok to dig the burial sites after a time ? Steve in so az

 

[Jim West Pa]

n/t

 

[Hank68]

That would be vandalism in my book!

 

[Ma Betty in MO]

Welcome Prodigy and marcomo.....the dead wouldn't care but their living families would! I've detected at my own country cemetery....mostly outside where they have picnic tables and many years ago had dinner on the ground....didn't find much....but wouldn't go into the fenced or grave areas of any other cemetery! Giving repect to the families of the dead! Ma Betty

 

[TURNMASTER]

Walking through a cemetery with a MD and a SHOVEL might look bad.....

I have heard that it is not legal in most areas
Public perception would be horrible
Private property which you unlikely to get permission to hunt

Personally I have no moral issues with the situation as the dead are not there. However there are many reasons not to be there. I can understand the allure but it really is not going to go well with the masses. Granted we are looking for "surface targets" but the stigma of stealing from the dead is not worth the trouble. If someone left a memento at a grave site they would be upset that some clown came by with a MD and stole it.

Treasure Hunting in a graveyard, bad plan which has a negative effect on the hobby as a whole. This is all about respect for the living.
Jeff

 

[TreasureDigger]

I can't speak for all areas but I know that around here people BUY that little plot of land to bury their loved ones. Bought and paid for. To go on that plot of land to detect would be considered trespassing and would not be taken lightly around these parts. I am a detectorist and like to take advantage of every opportunity to hunt any area I can, but a cemetery would not be one of them. Matter of fact, if I caught someone detecting on any of our family plots, I feel sure I could... and would, have no trouble taking them down a notch or two... in a heartbeat. Detecting cemeteries? IMO, is showing lack of class, morals, respect, and just plain ole human decency - of course that's just my opinion.

Lisa

 

[Hank68]

Alabama folks sometimes takes matters in our own hands when it comes to that, if I saw someone MDing at my dads gravesite I would make headlines news,it wouldn't be a good day, here we pull off the side of the road when a funeral possession pass, just out of respect! Just saying!

 

[TreasureDigger]

Amen, Hank!

Lisa