If you are in the field.woods and you come across what seems to be a shallow grave (maybe an old civil war grave), but not sure, what is the law concerning this whole issue. It could be a depression with (what seems to be) a rock for a marker, or a few sunken areas that look like old graves. Is it okay to dig and see? Is it okay to detect around them if you think they are graves? What is the whole deal with this kind of thing (the ethical process).
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Shallow Grave --- I am Ignorant
- Thread starter rsadler
- Start date
teleman2525
New member
if you realy think it may be a grave out of respect leave it be to me graves are sacred ground let your own heart guide you and would you want some guy metal detecting your grandfathers grave
BarnacleBill
New member
I have the same situation where I know that there are civil war era graves, deep in the woods with sunken areas and a couple of very difficult to see small flat to the ground headstones.
I steer very clear of this area for several reasons not the least of which are the legal issues of disturbing graves.
Ethical:
1. These are not my ancestors, but they are someone else's ancestors.
2. No matter what your religious/spiritual beliefs or lack thereof, why do you want to mess with those of their current day descendants?
3. I know that there are civil war veterans buried here. Do I want to dishonor brave soldiers no matter what side they fought on? What difference is there in digging at Arlington than here? None that I can see besides pretty grave markers and mowed grass.
4. Bad Karma/Medicine....that feeling in your gut that says this just ain't right!
Reputation:
1. The Archies already have detector users pegged as Pot Hunters/Grave Robbers. Do you want to provide them with more ammunition to enact laws & shut down more areas?
2. If someone from your local Historical Society finds out, what do you think the reaction is going to be? Would you like to see more areas shut down by local ordinance?
3. If you are willing to engage in this behavior, in the eyes of others what exactly are the limits to which you are willing to go to find a few trinkets?
The risk/reward benefit ratio is just not there. Do some looking & research to find the buildings/cellar holes associated with the grave site, that's where the goodies are anyways.
HH
BarnacleBill
I steer very clear of this area for several reasons not the least of which are the legal issues of disturbing graves.
Ethical:
1. These are not my ancestors, but they are someone else's ancestors.
2. No matter what your religious/spiritual beliefs or lack thereof, why do you want to mess with those of their current day descendants?
3. I know that there are civil war veterans buried here. Do I want to dishonor brave soldiers no matter what side they fought on? What difference is there in digging at Arlington than here? None that I can see besides pretty grave markers and mowed grass.
4. Bad Karma/Medicine....that feeling in your gut that says this just ain't right!
Reputation:
1. The Archies already have detector users pegged as Pot Hunters/Grave Robbers. Do you want to provide them with more ammunition to enact laws & shut down more areas?
2. If someone from your local Historical Society finds out, what do you think the reaction is going to be? Would you like to see more areas shut down by local ordinance?
3. If you are willing to engage in this behavior, in the eyes of others what exactly are the limits to which you are willing to go to find a few trinkets?
The risk/reward benefit ratio is just not there. Do some looking & research to find the buildings/cellar holes associated with the grave site, that's where the goodies are anyways.
HH
BarnacleBill
Low-Boy/LCPM
Active member
Maybe just look for small targets in the ground around the area. But I would not dig any grave or take a headstone...Karma
woodwizard
New member
DON'T MESS WITH IT OUT OF RESPECT- my property was once used by Indians as a yearly meeting place and they're burial mounds here I won't even show them to people for the reason being some asshole will disgrace the site.
Thank you again for your responses: Just to set the record straight....
* I have no plans of digging a grave for ALL the above reasons and then some.
* I know of someone who said that they had come upon something that looked like it was a grave, and they put a shovel in it. My first response was very negative (I was vocal). I have just ordered a F75 and it has been years since I've been in the woods. Nevertheless, If there is a depressed area with no markings, I would still be hard pressed to dig, not wanting to disturb a grave. As a pastor, I am fully aware of the sacredness of a tomb. HOWEVER, I would detect around the area as one of the responses to my question shared. I've got access to some woods that could be battle fields or camps (central Va.) I look forward in checking it out soon.
* The reason I asked about the law, I would hate to dig and discover that there are scared remains.
Thanks for sharing.
* I have no plans of digging a grave for ALL the above reasons and then some.
* I know of someone who said that they had come upon something that looked like it was a grave, and they put a shovel in it. My first response was very negative (I was vocal). I have just ordered a F75 and it has been years since I've been in the woods. Nevertheless, If there is a depressed area with no markings, I would still be hard pressed to dig, not wanting to disturb a grave. As a pastor, I am fully aware of the sacredness of a tomb. HOWEVER, I would detect around the area as one of the responses to my question shared. I've got access to some woods that could be battle fields or camps (central Va.) I look forward in checking it out soon.
* The reason I asked about the law, I would hate to dig and discover that there are scared remains.
Thanks for sharing.
Obviously nobody want's to disturb a known grave site, but I think the real problem comes in when your not sure what the depression is. It could be an old trash pit, filled in well, or some other buried event, so the trick is how do you know if it's a grave or something else?
I would never dig up a grave or hunt in a grave yard.When and what makes it a archaeological dig?So then they can dig up mummies and ancient people and put the bones on display.That seems to be ok with a lot of people at one time when these people were alive they had families how many years must pass before we consider old enough to dig and display?Like iam saying i would not dig around a grave or grave yard.But i understand what you are saying about you really don't know what is possibly buried there.Maybe some research of area would bring it in to perspective it maybe just a foxhole from the civil war or a cannon placement.Good luck