Ethical Question: Would you use a metal detector in a cemetary?

[jhollan2]

An investigator in my office recently purchased a really funky metal detector. Its law enforcement issue (surplus) and has some cool ultrasound/infared monitor. I would imagine that its original purpose was locating bullets, shells, and weapons buried in the ground. Anyway, he lives north of the city (Atlanta) on land that used to be a plantation "recieving" area - where goods were brought in for the plantation. Next to where he lives in a cemetary dating pre civil war and is still in use.

 

He has "searched" his property and come across some neat finds, many of which could be valuable if conserved. He has also gone to the cemetary and claims to have found A LOT of stuff there, not too deep. He has invited a bunch of people from the office over for a "detecting" party this weekend to scour the cemetary. It is public access land, so that is not a problem. The rule is that you cant dig deeper than with your fingers, no excavation allowed.

 

I kinda think its WEIRD!!! Its legal, but I'm not sure that pulling stuff out of cemetary land is ethically ok. I mean, how would you feel if you were visiting a relative and saw a bunch of people digging up the ground??? I have to admit, I'm intrigued by the thought of playing with the new toy and seeing whats down there, but I'm on the fence about the venue? Thoughts?

 

-Jill

[Dry]

[Wihlborg]

Hi Jill,

 

I don’t think I would use a metal detector in a cemetery. Although I think a cemetery might be a good place to find things that were lost over the years by people visiting their loved ones, I just wouldn’t feel right running around a cemetery with a metal detector and digging holes like a squirrel trying to find a lost nut. To be honest, I’m surprised that it’s even legal.

 

John

[jhollan2]

Amazingly, it is...or atleast it becomes legal when a whole bunch of cops and ADAs show up to do it...I'm just not sure how I FEEL about it!

 

-Jill

[TomB]

Perhaps it's legal, but I don't think it's right. In fact, since the cemetary is still in use, I think that there would be a very good chance of offending or bringing to anger a mourner on a visit. Again, perhaps it's legal, but I think it extremely callous.

[Hoot]

...has some cool ultrasound/infared monitor.

 

I'd be worried about what this could turn up in a cemetary.

 

I kinda think its WEIRD!!! Its legal, but I'm not sure that pulling stuff out of cemetary land is ethically ok. I mean, how would you feel if you were visiting a relative and saw a bunch of people digging up the ground??? I have to admit, I'm intrigued by the thought of playing with the new toy and seeing whats down there, but I'm on the fence about the venue? Thoughts?

 

I grew up next to a big cemetary. It had been in use since the civil war, even though it was out west. The funny thing is that the people who ran the grounds knew almost nothing of where the old graves were, let alone who was buried in them. There were hundreds of unmarked graves and an entire section (probably about 3 acres) that had to be exhumed and moved to marked territory. As a kid, I was fascinated with this. These dead folks never creeped me out and I viewed the entire operation rather matter-of-factly. So, in terms of digging, I think the cemetary has the right rules and as long as folks abide by them, I don't see a problem.

 

I know this is a serious topic for most folks, and although we should be sensitive to the feelings of loss that each of us experiences with loved ones, I see a difference between that and what defines hallowed ground. It's not like the guy is robbing graves.

 

Hoot

[truthteller]

I agree with TomB. I'm surprised cops and ADA would even think of doing this. Let's put it this way, would you search a cemetary that had the remains of those soldiers who just died in Iraq? Same thing, different people.

 

 

TRUTH

[Leothelion]

Amazingly, it is...or atleast it becomes legal when a whole bunch of cops and ADAs show up to do it...I'm just not sure how I FEEL about it!

 

-Jill

 

Gold fillings! What a find that would be!

 

Leo

[Hoot]

Gold fillings! What a find that would be!

 

Leo

 

The rule is that you cant dig deeper than with your fingers, no excavation allowed.

 

I reckon if you're finding gold fillings in that shallow of soil, the contributor wasn't who's buried there.

[Here]

No good! Especially for the profession you and your friends are in. What if the totally unexpected happens and you all end up on the local news? Whose going to answer why a group of the DA's investigators and assistants were having a party in the cemetary with metal detectors. Don't think someone who knows when and where this is going to happen might not call the local TV station as a joke and make up some story why you're out there either. And, is your boss up for re-election this year ? Think about it. Jerry

[thebeav]

Jill,

Jerry brings up some very good points....I think your initial trepidation has already proven an answer to your inquiry...

I really enjoyed this topic.....Paul

[solid]

IMHO, whatever is there, however it came to be, should be left undisturbed.

 

Not related to your question, but a few years ago I was digging a hole in my yard to place a concrete piling for a gasoline tank (I'm out in the country). About three feet down I unearthed a bone that looked like it could have been an old human thigh bone. I'm not positive that's what it was, but I don't think it was animal being that deep. Naturally I was curious as to what else might be down there, but I put it back and covered it up.

 

Ken

[nOoBiEeE-migration]

[gmarguli]

If the cemetery weren't still in use, then maybe I would say it was OK. Kind of tasteless, but not so wretchedly so that I shiver at the thought. However, since it is still in use, I don't think I would do it. And if I were a relative and saw you digging at the grave of a loved one, I beat the out of you.

[spy88]

Jill, I think that for your sake, Jerrys points concerning the publics view of the goings-on could come back to bite you all big time. Not worth the risk to anyones career, and if I were you, I would stay away from this outing.

 

JMO---David

[jhollan2]

I didnt go. Thanks for all your input! I do agree that its a little weird, and not so tasteful to go, so I didnt! My understanding is that the cemetary is still in use, but the section they were going to isnt, it was "filled up" about 100 years ago.

 

As for the other questions, my boss is up for re-election this year, but he's unopposed. And I do think the "news" comment nailed it for me! I've been on the news a few times, but this wouldnt be good! I'll stick to playing with the toy in the woods where no one can see...

 

-JIll

[truthteller]

 

 

 

TRUTH

[JamminJ]

I think you made the right decision.

 

-JamminJ

[Leothelion]

could come back to bite you all big time.

 

"HAUNT" would be for a better word! WooOOOooooOOOOooo!

 

Leo

 

Perhaps digging 3 am in the morning with night viewing binoculars would be your best chance.

[0john0-migration]

Should have called the TV station while they were there and as somebody suggested, their jobs might shortly become vacated.

-john

[jhollan2]

Now thats not nice... Everyone involved is a very nice and good person. They meant no harm and I wouldnt have asked the question if I thought they were out meaning disrespect. They do a lot of good, hard, work. And sometimes when all you deal with is death and morbidity your concepts of the "real world" get skewed. Thats why I asked the question...

 

-Jill

[spy88]

You tell 'em, Jill! Needs to learn more then just "the ropes"!

[Count_Erfit]

What if your uncle was a ROBOT and you forgot where he was and wanted to leave some oil on his grave for Memorial Day?

 

 

[jhollan2]

If my uncle was a robot and I thought that the metal detector could detect 6 feet deep accurately I think it would be ok...although I might question my lineage if I am a relative of a man-made object!

 

I guess my original question still stands, though. In what historical site is it OK (ethically) to use such a device. If we assume that the original rules stand, and that no one will dig deeper than they can with only their hands, what sites are OK to disturb? A battlefield might have the same negative connotations that an old cemetary might. I respect, and agree, that a cemetary is taboo, but where is the line between historical interest and twisted?

 

There were a few postings that the answer might be different if the cemetary were not in use. I'm not sure that I see a difference. If we assume that we are staying away from "sacred" ground then is there a difference between something that is old and something that is new? What if the site was an old cemetary that has since been moved (I know of a few locations where the coffins were moved because they were building houses...wasnt that a movie)? Is the yucky issue the bodies or the land itself? And isnt there a certain reverance in searching a site to discover its historical value?

 

I'm curious, both because I'm new to this hobby and the "rules" it comes with, if you only have access to public grounds, where do people use detectors?

 

-Jill

[cladking]

Common sense would seem to imply one stays out of a cemetary with a shovel. It is entirely possible that some people due to the nature of their jobs might want to avoid any appearance of seeking to profit from another's loss and this could go double in a cemetary.

 

A greater consideration might be metal detecting on public lands or looking for "public" artifacs anywhere. There have been cases where the courts have determined that coins found on public property did not belong to the finder and to be sure all such coins were surrendered the courts confiscated their coin collections. I'm aware of no such case in the last decade but Coin World reported a couple cases years ago.

[jhollan2]

I dont think this is an issue of searching for valuables. I would be in it for the history. And no shovels are allowed, just hands.

[0john0-migration]

You tell 'em, Jill! Needs to learn more then just "the ropes"!

 

Shove it.

 

 

"They do a lot of good, hard, work. And sometimes when all you deal with is death and morbidity your concepts of the "real world" get skewed. Thats why I asked the question...

 

-Jill "

 

I dealt with death and morbidity as a fireman for enough years and that only made all of us even more sensitive to the grief of those who had lost loved ones. I can't imagine my fire chief suggesting an outing to the resting place of dead people to hunt for coins. Talk about somebody with something to learn, I think the ADAs and cops need a reality check. I am glad that you did not go.

 

-john

[Count_Erfit]

Well, how about a Memorial Day dig yellin "Hey look what I found?"

 

Could try to pass off as .....archaeologists.

 

I would draw the line at tooth necklaces though.

 

[Oldtrader3]

[michael]

NO NO NO

 

 

michael