Bones and lots of broken pottery....pottery pix added

[Hosensack]

am I cursed? pretty sure it was the old dump site but.. Red pottery(plain exterior olive yellow interior glaze, lots of it, oh yeah and the bones) no markers of any kind, thinking maybe animal in the old dump sight(actually hoping). Hit small piece of bone first, no worries more pottery then some real nice pieces of bone and the rain started, so gently put everything back in hole and covered. Should I be conscerned(not about a curse) just whether or not to keep digging, and do I inform someone if so who? Or is it probably from an animal that was in an old dumpsite. This was all about a foot and a half below grade.

 

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[Sheldius]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

What sort of pottery? If it was native americian, then you might have stumbled on a grave. Grave goods were quite common. Hard to same from just a description, but you might check out local archaeology text on pottery from your area. Not to many settlers buried people with pottery.

I'd have to see a picture of the bones to tell if they are human or not. Upper arm and upper leg bones are easiest to identify (expect for the skull, of course ). Would you be able to tell those from an animal?

Also, any color change in the soil you were digging into from the soils around it?

 

[Hosensack]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

Maybe I'll get the pottery and take some pictures, as I just dumped it back in the hole will be easy to access now, I'm not sure of the laws and don't feel right digging in the grave of a culture that felt so strongly about their dead if it would indeed be native american. I will look into pottery archives from area and like I said maybe get some out of the hole take a picture, put it back in.

 

[Sheldius]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

If you really find a grave, you should stop digging and contact the local police. They will probably call the coraner, who will determine if it is old or not. A forsenic anthropologist or archaeologist may also be called in to investigate. The State Historical Preservation Office (SHIPO) will be contacted if they are old remains.

If you have permission to dig, and there are no obvious grave markings, then you wouldn't be in the wrong. Without permission, you might be charged with tresspassing, but probably not. The police want all bodies reported, obviously.

 

[Hosensack]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

there are daphadils, but also an old foundation under ground which is why I am searching in the frist place. this would be outside the structure. I did not find enough bones to convince me of what it was, as soon as I saw enough to know it was something not just a random bone, I stopped digging. Its my Uncles land so I'm in no danger of trespass laws, just unsure of what to do. Do I continue to dig and see if it is just animal, or leave it go, if it is not a grave I do want the pottery. Obviously if i continue and see a skull or more identifiable bone then it would be reported.

 

[dugupfinds]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

Rubbish hole with animal bones.

Dig it.

 

[d2]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

I'm thinking trash pit also. Dig it...d2

 

[Hosensack]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

ok I feel reassured, very new to any serious relic hunting, I see bones and pottery get worried, hopefully it wasn't a ridiculous question. thank you every one for replies..if I find a body I will let you know, or if it produces any nice finds I'll do the same.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Bones and lots of broken pottery....

Take pics of pottery. Post here. Someone could ID for you.

 

[Hosensack]

I added the pictures of some of the pottery for possible identification, its lehigh county pa, lower milford, township if that helps.

 

[TreasureTales]

First off, you are to be commended for having respect for graves. But without seeing something indicative of HUMAN bones, I'd say go for it. IF you find some long leg or arm bones, or a human skull - then you should stop digging and get the authorities. But until/unless you find something that proves the bones are human, you shouldn't worry. Those pieces of pottery could have been used for pickling pig's feet or for any number of other harmless uses that don't involve graves.

A few weeks ago we had a member who was digging under his house and found some bones. After reporting his discovery to the local authorities, it took quite awhile before they got back to him - not human. So unless your uncle is a serial killer (just kidding), you have little to worry about.

 

[Sheldius]

Thanks for the pictures. I'm fairly confident that you have not discovered a Native American grave. I'm an archaeology PhD student (pottery not my speciality), and those look like historical or even modern pottery glazes and techniques.

I'd feel safe continuing to dig until I found something pretty clearly looking like human remains. Especially with the foundation and such close by. Bones are most likely in the trash pit because they are waste from many suppers .

Of course, that is just my opinion. Free advise is worth what you pay for it.

HH.

 

[daytondigger]

What you describe is the typical items tossed into the family privy. Meat bones, glass, pottery and cans mixed with ash and coal etc. are common

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im not a pottery specialist by any means but they dont look Indian to me. Hopefully someone else can positively ID.