Even with permission do you hunt a graveyard???

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
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Relic Hunting
Have been offered up detecting two sites in the last 10 yrs by property owners.
First was a site of a cellar hole and was given permission. He pointed out the tract of field on the other side of the barn and stated that it was a native burial ground, and I could hunt it all I wanted as it didn't matter.
"Thank you-but no thank you"
Second one was just a yr back now and the farmer told me of the trail that led up to a forgotten cemetery and that I could hunt around the graves all I wanted.
"I explained that it wasn't a place to detect, but thanked him anyways"
 

maipenrai

Bronze Member
Nov 11, 2010
1,151
242
Thailand/Europe/California
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Excalibur 2 1000
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All Treasure Hunting
I wouldnt even detect in a cemetery parking lot. Not that it would bug me, but it wouldnt take long before everyone would think I was digging up graves. Im sure it would be nice hunting, but since this is an odd type of hobby, its best to just keep a low profile. Anyone that hunts tot lots, must be weird and suspect of most anything!
 

civil_war22

Relic Recovery Specialist
Dec 5, 2008
3,215
2,810
NW Arkansas
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Fisher F75 SE/LTD2, minelab Etrac, whites classic id, spectrum xlt, fisher f7, fisher 1266, king of all Tesoro Cibola, Tesoro Vaquero, Fisher 1280-X, minelab equinox, Fisher F75+ Garrett AT MAX
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Relic Hunting
I’ve never hunted a actual cemetery where the graves were but my family cemetery I looked in the dirt drive with my great grandma and dad. Found some pearl earrings and two mercury dimes in the same hole my great grandma remembers her aunt wearing at her cousins funeral.
 

CoilyGirl

Gold Member
Nov 8, 2012
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Nashville
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Minelab x-Terra 505
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Relic Hunting
If you knowingly hunt a cemetery I think it’s wrong both legally and morally.
 

chub

Bronze Member
Apr 23, 2017
1,503
2,242
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Fisher F75, Minelab Soveriegn XS 2
Nokta pinpointer
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All Treasure Hunting
Accidentally did once. Wasnt aware that the upright stones represented headstones:dontknow:. Dawned on me... Very remote abandoned native graveyard. umm nope , switched off and walked away. Thinking back it was very quiet signal wise. On the upside I found a silver three pence later that day when I got back to where I was supposed to be.

Chub
 

dts52

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Jun 20, 2015
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NW CT
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Equinox800 / AT Pro / AT Gold / Makro Racer
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I guess most of you have a problem with digging up the Great Pyramids/burial chambers too.....lol

You are correct, sir.
dts
 

3cylbill

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Jul 2, 2015
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s.tier NY
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TESORO, MINELAB, WHITES , GARRETT
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Metal Detecting
hello....hello ..you guys are missing something ...do your research....things were different back in the day ...before automobiles ..use your heads....
 

Rookster

Gold Member
Nov 24, 2013
29,382
111,597
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XP Deus, F75Ltd., AT PRO, Garrett pointer
Primary Interest:
Cache Hunting
I've dug around one old (1800's)one but not in it.
 

creskol

Gold Member
Jan 14, 2007
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I have at the request of the church to try to locate unmarked graves, but not to dig.
 

WannaDig3687

Gold Member
Jun 5, 2017
23,801
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O-H-I-O
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I own a cemetery. When we bought the farm, the lawyer said we could " legally do anything we want with it, including digging it up and building our house there." Ummm, no! However, it was in great need of attention. I am constantly working on it, including digging up the gravestones and resetting them straight, and digging borders around them to help prevent me from damaging the stones with the lawn mower, etc.
When I first started detecting, I did go out to the cemetery. It is the only sectioned off land, so I could keep track of where I was at and I was trying to learn what the detector was trying to tell me. I didn't realize it was such a big "no-no" for some people. I ended up digging a shotgun shell and a beer can out of it. Now IMO, that was disrespectful, and I was "led" there to get them out. Again, I stress IMO. Since then, I have learned that it's a "stumbling block" for some tnet members. For that reason, I will not detect there just for the sake of detecting. I am not going to stop straightening up tombstones and digging out stumps.
 

RudyT

Sr. Member
Nov 23, 2017
396
604
LaPorte, Texas
Detector(s) used
Bounty Hunter
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
You are a good person for what you’re doing. I agree with you I couldn’t dig at a cemetery it’s bad Ju-Ju!! Just think if some of your family was there would you like someone to dig there. Once again great job!!
 

1320

Silver Member
Dec 10, 2004
3,434
2,308
East Central Kentucky
I honestly don't have an opinion but I have to ask, for the haters out there, are you worried about digging up signals directly associated with burials? Or is it the "can't walk on a grave" thing? I was taught not to walk on top of a grave and believed in that for many years....until I started mowing cemeteries....that went out the window about minute 3...lol.
 

civil_war22

Relic Recovery Specialist
Dec 5, 2008
3,215
2,810
NW Arkansas
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Detector(s) used
Fisher F75 SE/LTD2, minelab Etrac, whites classic id, spectrum xlt, fisher f7, fisher 1266, king of all Tesoro Cibola, Tesoro Vaquero, Fisher 1280-X, minelab equinox, Fisher F75+ Garrett AT MAX
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
I honestly don't have an opinion but I have to ask, for the haters out there, are you worried about digging up signals directly associated with burials? Or is it the "can't walk on a grave" thing? I was taught not to walk on top of a grave and believed in that for many years....until I started mowing cemeteries....that went out the window about minute 3...lol.

I was raised the same way.. I didn’t start doing it until later in life when I actually had to do maintenance on my families cemetery. At first I would try my best to not stand on them but then you get to realizing sometimes it’s hard to do so when they are buried so close to one another and you’re leaving over the headstone to reach something out in the middle
 

sandchip

Silver Member
Oct 29, 2010
4,351
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Georgia
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Teknetics T2SE
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All Treasure Hunting
I was taught never to step on graves. I don't detect cemeteries. BUT, after I'm gone, you can dance on my grave, detect and dig all you want. Wouldn't bother me a bit. I've told my family that I wish they'd save the money and drag my carcass out in the woods and leave me at the base of a big old tree and let the scavengers do what they do. I'll be long gone and in a way better place anyway. To me, my body is no different from an old truck that finally gave out and is towed out to the hedgerow to rust away.
 

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