At what point is it OK to dig up old graves?

[aaron7]

Ok, that title came out way more morbid than I intended!

When it comes to archaeological purposes... how old do graves need to be before they are dug up for artifacts and studying?

NOT that I have things planned... just an honest question that I thought of last night when watching a show where they used GPR to find graves in a guy's back yard from the Revolutionary period!

 

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[FarmerChick]

that was Ghost Hunters...I saw it too.

depends. I don't think a relative wanting to find and locate their graves should start digging any time soon. LOL LOL

good question in a way because over the centuries tombs are raided, graves are found accidently while digging etc. but to 'just dig up a grave' just doesn't seem cool to me.

Is there ever a right time?? hmmm

 

[ivan salis]

MOST BUCKLE'S ARE EITHER DAMAGED THROW AWAYS OR BLOWN OFF DURING BATTLE -- i HOPE THAT AT LEAST -- digging up a body for a buckle is just plain sick.

 

[P.B. and Dylan]

I found an old forgotton graveyard (1800's) by using an old map and a lot of legwork. The tombstones (I later found out) were bulldozed down by someone who owned the property around 1950-60. There are depressions in the ground which I would think are the actual graves. When I was speaking to someone from the graveyard preservation society about this I asked if they ever dig, to try to identify if it is an actual grave and who's remains they may be, she said no. I got the impression that they didn't feel that it was proper. I however felt it was. So to answer your question I think that in this case that would be a good reason to do it in order to remark the burial site(s) and reestablish the cemetery.

 

[P.B. and Dylan]

Thanks Texastee, I'll give that a shot.

 

[allen]

I dont care how old the grave site is, I will never
detect it and I will not allow anyone with me do it.
Only the proper authorities should bother these
graves and only with a very good reason.
This is my opinion.

 

[njnydigger]

Only if one believes gold is present. I wouldn't advocate digging up old plots just for silver...too much work I just love it everytime this question comes up

NEVER!!!

 

[packerbacker]

I guess if you're buried in a pyramid with a bunch of golden artifacts it's ok to be dug up. They can even put you on display and charge people to come gawk at you.

 

[KEYSHUNTER]

well, something happen in the past..i just have to see if there was a twin.....

 

[Tarablee]

its A crime!! Vandalism; jail time, fines, mobs, torches, etc

It is a Federal Offense to disturb a Grave. There are ways to detect bodies underground without disturbing the entire grave or digging up a body. Before digging anywhere you should get permission from the landowners and they should know if there are graves on their property.
It’s possible to sink metal tubes into the ground that can take a soil sample which can be sifted through for wood, nails, bone, etc.
it is NEVER ok to disturb a grave or graveyard. It’s possible to check the law I don’t think it varies by state. To illustrate how serious it is, I recently found an Ancestral gravesite on Timberland in Tx and it hadn’t been touched in 30+years. The Timber company didn’t want to be fined. Must be pretty serious if they don’t want to touch the trees. They are pretty vigilant about that stuff. Very inconvenient for me as well, because now it’s hard to get in and clean the place up bc it’s in the middle of nowhere!
Permission b4 digging, call the county for property owner. Huge fines or jail time for vandalizing a grave! Not worth it...

 

[Ammoman]

On my grave stone it will say, "Feel free to dig me up any time. Remember...fill your holes!"

 

[Honest Samuel]

Digging up graves is not for me.

 

[Rookster]

On my grave stone it will say, "Feel free to dig me up any time. Remember...fill your holes!"

But be sure to dig me all.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Ok, that title came out way more morbid than I intended!

When it comes to archaeological purposes... how old do graves need to be before they are dug up for artifacts and studying?

NOT that I have things planned... just an honest question that I thought of last night when watching a show where they used GPR to find graves in a guy's back yard from the Revolutionary period!

I usually wait for the family to leave. I've found it's a lot less hassle that way.

 

[diggummup]

It is a Federal Offense to disturb a Grave. There are ways to detect bodies underground without disturbing the entire grave or digging up a body. Before digging anywhere you should get permission from the landowners and they should know if there are graves on their property.
It’s possible to sink metal tubes into the ground that can take a soil sample which can be sifted through for wood, nails, bone, etc.
it is NEVER ok to disturb a grave or graveyard. It’s possible to check the law I don’t think it varies by state. To illustrate how serious it is, I recently found an Ancestral gravesite on Timberland in Tx and it hadn’t been touched in 30+years. The Timber company didn’t want to be fined. Must be pretty serious if they don’t want to touch the trees. They are pretty vigilant about that stuff. Very inconvenient for me as well, because now it’s hard to get in and clean the place up bc it’s in the middle of nowhere!
Permission b4 digging, call the county for property owner. Huge fines or jail time for vandalizing a grave! Not worth it...

So you joined treasurenet just to revive a 7 year old thread about digging up graves and give us information we are already familiar with?