Opinions wanted

[RTH]

I would like to get your opinions on a MD morals issue.

A friend of mine manages a small cemetery, about 5 acres. The cemetery dates back to the mid 1800's but is still in use and there are a few burials there every year.

The issue is that the records from the earlier burials were lost several years ago when the church on site burned down. Many of the records from then on were spotty until about 20 years ago. The association has approved the purchase of a metal detector to locate the "pins" (they call them mushrooms) to help determine locations and plots that have been marked out in the past. Since no one associated with the cemetery has any MD experience, I may be asked to help. This would be a directed search in specific areas to locate pins and most likely not a large search.

Should I refuse to help because of the ethics of MD? If I leave them to do it themselves, I am sure it would be a very tedious task for someone with no experience. In addition to their expense of purchasing or renting equipment.

If I do assist with the search, what should I do with anything found while looking for the pins?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

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[vpnavy]

Sounds like a great opportunity to help! I am sure some associations members will be right with you watching and learning the art of MD'ng. If you have time - you might consider saving them the cost of a MD and jumping in to help find those markers.

 

[Oddjob]

I would like to get your opinions on a MD morals issue.

A friend of mine manages a small cemetery, about 5 acres. The cemetery dates back to the mid 1800's but is still in use and there are a few burials there every year.

The issue is that the records from the earlier burials were lost several years ago when the church on site burned down. Many of the records from then on were spotty until about 20 years ago. The association has approved the purchase of a metal detector to locate the "pins" (they call them mushrooms) to help determine locations and plots that have been marked out in the past. Since no one associated with the cemetery has any MD experience, I may be asked to help. This would be a directed search in specific areas to locate pins and most likely not a large search.

Should I refuse to help because of the ethics of MD? If I leave them to do it themselves, I am sure it would be a very tedious task for someone with no experience. In addition to their expense of purchasing or renting equipment.

If I do assist with the search, what should I do with anything found while looking for the pins?

Thanks for your opinions.

Seen this once before in Texas after a flood. I was only liike 12 back then, but had gotten invited along with the rest of my family because I had my MD.

I would guess about 30 folks showed up to it, each hit would get marked, verified by two others and recorded on paper by a worker there. After all was marked in a weeks time everything was dug with 5 people from various backgrounds.

Police each other inn the matter, and with a good system and moral in place all should be fine. I would say go for it.

 

[cudamark]

I'd help them in a second. I don't see an ethics problem since they asked for your help, and it was going to be done by someone anyway. You would probably cause less damage than a total amateur.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I'd help them in a second. I don't see an ethics problem since they asked for your help, and it was going to be done by someone anyway. You would probably cause less damage than a total amateur.

Agreed. In fact, I don't even know why there'd be a question of "morals", to begin with. Coffins are 6 ft. deep. The pins you are looking for are ... what ... 6 inches deep ? So what's there to "morally" question ? And .. heck, ... you're there for a noble purpose. So I don't get the question.

But I should clarify: Yes, I know why the O.P. asked. Because of the repeated posts that come up, on general coin-hunting in graveyards (fumble fingers losses from those attending grave-side funerals over the years). So that if a legit. purpose comes up, then a skittish md'r recalls earlier debates. But to me, this is just an example of "over-thinking" things. Supposed fears , that we're all supposed to "fear" when it comes to md'ing. When reality is: Probably no one cares less. Just go.

 

[Tom Slick]

I don't see any moral issue at all. It's not like you'd be detecting gold rings on peoples fingers, unless your detector is waaaay better than mine or anybody else's.

 

[A2coins]

Now if you intentions were different I might say different but I think you would be doing a good thing

 

[Oddjob]

Agreed. In fact, I don't even know why there'd be a question of "morals", to begin with. Coffins are 6 ft. deep. The pins you are looking for are ... what ... 6 inches deep ? So what's there to "morally" question ? And .. heck, ... you're there for a noble purpose. So I don't get the question.

But I should clarify: Yes, I know why the O.P. asked. Because of the repeated posts that come up, on general coin-hunting in graveyards (fumble fingers losses from those attending grave-side funerals over the years). So that if a legit. purpose comes up, then a skittish md'r recalls earlier debates. But to me, this is just an example of "over-thinking" things. Supposed fears , that we're all supposed to "fear" when it comes to md'ing. When reality is: Probably no one cares less. Just go.

I think the moral concerns are with the items left behind that would be around the same depth as the pins.

The place we assisted did their best to map, and put back in the ground any affects that where recovered in the area. But it was a flood that created that problem and many of things found could not be put back. They had a vault there that such items went into and they let all the families they could find for the area that was effected.

 

[firemanphob]

I was one who had spoken up against metal detecting in a cemetery. I thought it was rather crude to be searching and digging on peoples graves to pick up change. What your talking about is doing a service for the cemetery and locating peoples graves for identification. I see no problem with doing so as long as it is done in a respectful manner. Just my two cents worth.

 

[releventchair]

You can help locate pins with a detector.
Nothing wrong with that.
Detectors locate metal. Operator targeting pins to help out is far different than detecting a cemetary for plunder.

 

[Nitric]

If this bothers you in any way, and you have to ask what to do? You may want to pass... It may come back and bother you later, for whatever reason.

To me? I see no big deal. And I'm not trying to drag up that argument either.

No big deal at all. But if your on the fence? Our advice and opinions won't mean much later on. The people in charge there will tell you what to do with anything found if you go that route. They may want every find, or may not even care as long as the job is done.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

You are being asked to do a service, so I see no harm in helping. If you are really bothered by the thought of finding something of value and keeping it, just ask before you start the task. "Can I keep anything found (at a depth of up to .....inches?) while detecting for the "Mushrooms"." Perhaps this will help: If you find something traceable back to the family, you could always return it to any current family members.

Good Luck either way.

 

[iowamp]

I got asked by the sextant of our local cemetery to hunt for these pins. We used my metal detector and tape measure to find pins. I was glad to help out. Afterwards he let me metal detect his 1870s house yard and I found a silver Wash. quarter.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I think the moral concerns are with the items left behind that would be around the same depth as the pins. ....

Ok, sure. It's *possible* that someone left a memento purposefully there, at the foot of a gravestone. I've heard that someone might leave a coin, of the date of the death of the deceased , at the tombstone, for instance.

I hate to be ... uh ... trite , but, if we all sit around worrying about the "what if's" long enough (how various people in-the-world *might* be offended at something we do) is the day that you might as well give up detecting ANYWHERE.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

You can try and help. But graves at six feet would get by me. You need an eight-foot bottle probe.

No ethics problem if you leave everything where it is.

 

[cactusman]

I see no ethics problem at all with this -- they want your help/expertise in locating the pins to know where graves are -- that's a service to them, and to the families of the deceased.

As for anything else you find, make sure it gets to the owner of the cemetery, as you will searching on hallowed ground.

If the pins are rebar they may make for small targets, and if iron make sure you leave your discrimination off. If they are buried deep, they could be hard to locate. If they are like property pins your best bet might be a magnetic locator over a metal detector.

 

[Keppy]

I have a friend that manages a cemetery up here and him and i hunt the cemetery now and then never thought it to be a problem..I have hunted other cemetery's also it is peaceful and no one to bother you.

 

[RustyGold]

I think it would be a great opportunity to meet people and get invited to hunt their properties from the kind help you’re giving them.
I wouldn’t keep or take anything found unless offered.

 

[RTH]

Thanks for all the comments and opinions. I was more concerned of the optics and past debates about MD in cemeteries. The area that I would be searching is an area away from any marked graves.

I let you all know if anything interesting comes up.