A question of ethics - old abandoned graveyards

[DeepseekerADS]

I'm aware of a long abandoned graveyard, dating probably back to the early 1800's. There are as many as 50 grave sites featuring only ground stones as markers. Many of these are probably relatives of my family.

As a person of faith and ethics, I'm not a grave robber.

But then this is so very tempting.

Any thoughts on this?

 

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[RevAndy]

This referee has toss a red flag on the field, 15 yards, automatic 4th down, for even thinking that this is OK!!!

 

[DeepseekerADS]

This referee has toss a red flag on the field, 15 yards, automatic 4th down, for even thinking that this is OK!!!

And THAT my friend is why I haven't hit it!

 

[Tpmetal]

eh, in my book if you cleaned up the graveyard and markers first all would be forgiven.

 

[Rookster]

No No. Taboo.!!!

 

[Terry Soloman]

For me, the problem is PUBLIC PERCEPTION. If someone saw me detecting in a graveyard, no matter how old or abandoned, I would be labeled a grave robber. If I was there with a small group of people wearing orange vests, working in taped off grids with digging tools and clipboards, in all probability no one would bat an eye.

 

[RustyGold]

I wouldn’t want the karma..good or bad.

 

[bologna321]

Nope, I would not

 

[Hillbilly Prince]

I don't believe in karma. The hindus can't even agree on it.
Anyway,are you talking about using a MD to look for coins and such in the area? That doesn't seem out of bounds. Although if you are seen it would ptobably be thought ghoulish.

 

[firemanphob]

I would never ever detect inside a graveyard no matter how old it is. now on the other hand, I would not have a problem detecting the area surrounding where people could have dropped change or other things when visiting the graveyard or attending funerals.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I would never ever detect inside a graveyard no matter how old it is. now on the other hand, I would not have a problem detecting the area surrounding where people could have dropped change or other things when visiting the graveyard or attending funerals.

The graveyard is very close to me on a hilltop and heavily forested - thus long forgotten. My ancestors settled this holler around sometime early to mid 1700's.

There's no way in the world I'd even consider detecting on the graves themselves - though it was custom in the early days here to place a coin on the grave of a loved one. What I was considering is the area around the graves and not in the immediate yard itself where people would have crowded for the funerals.

 

[Ron P]

I detected a farm field, we were joking that there was a civil war hoard buried in the field; when about 10 feet outside, repeat "outside" a fenced in family plot I got a signal, dug it and 3 feet down was a casket. We contacted the Farmer, he had us dig more to confirm it was a metal casket. He was shocked and didn't know who it was or why it was "outside" the plot....strange things do happen.

 

[xr7ator]

You got a signal, 3 feet deep, with your Garrett? What coil? lol

Go for it DeepseekerADS. The coin placed on a grave is one not to disturb. Anything accidentally dropped in the area is the same as if it were dropped in a park.

 

[cudamark]

The graveyard is very close to me on a hilltop and heavily forested - thus long forgotten. My ancestors settled this holler around sometime early to mid 1700's.

There's no way in the world I'd even consider detecting on the graves themselves - though it was custom in the early days here to place a coin on the grave of a loved one. What I was considering is the area around the graves and not in the immediate yard itself where people would have crowded for the funerals.

Personally, I'd have no problem with it, but, I'm not religious or superstitious. It's not as if you're digging up their grave. You're looking for shallow targets, not something 6 feet under. As mentioned, I'd show respect for the area by cleaning the place up, mow the brush, straighten the headstones, pull some weeds, pop some large cents! Anyone who wants to detect on top of my grave, is welcome to do it! Hopefully, that will be way in the future though!

 

[Clad2Silver]

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER...….

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I do see both side of the question responses. Right at this moment, the voting is 6 against and 4 for.

As you can imagine, I got a side of me which is in favor of hitting it. And then there is that side which is horrified at the thought.

Won't be hitting it anytime soon. I do have the lust, but I also have the reverence.

 

[cudamark]

It's been a subject debated for ages with good arguments on both sides. Take the people who have excavated various tombs around the world, including King Tut......archies or grave robbers? And we aren't even talking about digging up somebodies remains.....just surface finds from visitors. Unless it's forbidden at a particular site, I see it as a personal choice. I respect that decision either way.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Cuda, I won't be hitting there this week, maybe next. I won't go on the graves.

A whole lot to think about on this. Faced right now on the "right thing to do"

 

[uglymailman]

Deep, my two cents is not in a graveyard. Outside is ok, but most here in Missouri have a fence around them, if nothing else, just to keep out cattle. It sounds like back where you are they, or most of them, are NOT fenced.
In Northwest Iowa an original surveyor died while in the field. The crew buried him and pulled ties (noted distances from a describable object) to the grave from a section corner. The next year the crew brought back a headstone. 100 years later the farmer that owned the land had pulled said headstone and moved it to the fence line and planted corn over the guy. Do what your heart tells you. Good luck.

 

[Ammoman]

This is a decision only you can make. Personally, i have no problem hitting a place such as you describe. For those who consider this offensive yet relic hunt battle fields consider this... they are both grave yards. The difference is one has head stones where the other does not.