He dug up a dead guy

[Riggleman]

***Warning*** May be disturbing to some readers

Today me and a friend went to a new permission. We were on a property finding Civil War bullets, we split up and after a while my buddy comes over with an (deleted by mod for language) look on his face.

He proceeds to tell me he dug up a dead guy. I laugh at him like sure, i bet. He insists saying he was serious and pulls out his phone. This being a Civil War skirmish site I knew it was possible, then realized he was telling the truth.

Long story short he finds a large flat stone with a nice clean signal underneath. He moves the rock and doesn't see anything so he begins digging. About a foot down he uncovers a small box inscribed with a name and dates.

He had uncovered a box of ashes. He carefully covered the box and replaced the stone. We were in a remote area, there were no other markers or signage indicating the burial site, and the owners never warned us, they have only owned the property a few years and I doubt they know of its existence. This was the last thing we expected to find today.

We have researched the name and dates inscribed on the box and have discovered the man lived and died in a neighboring state.

It goes to show you never know what you may dig up.

I have concealed the deceased name for respect.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Holyground]

Did he have any gold rings?

 

[Riggleman]

Thats a touchy subject. The whole ride home we debated on the boxes contents. In all honesty it could be empty, but considering we researched the man's obituary and everything matches id say its safe to say hes in the box, now if there is gold or silver in the box, it did cross our minds to open it and see but in the end its just didnt seem right. If it was a dead yankee i may have felt differently 😉

 

[jeff of pa]

Cool Find !

I'd be Tempted to Bring it Home & add it to my Collection
But Probably Wouldn't.
it's obvious he isn't a Lost Soldier , Being Cremated, Someone Paid for it.

Not sure if I'd tell the Land Owner.

I'd definitely Not Report it Without the Landowner Knowing.

If Civil War related Family & Archies May be Interested.
But That brings up a Whole New "Can of Worms" ! (pun intended)
maybe ending your Hunt site.

If You didn't,
You should have Looked Carefully at the Flat Stone.
It may have been a Head Stone

 

[Riggleman]

Yeah, it has all been put back as "natural" as possible. We agreed to just let this one rest (pun intended). Most of the site is very overgrown still so we definetly wanna go back. He was obviously buried out there to be left alone so we plan to keep it that way. Ive stumbled onto some long forgotten dilapidated graves/graveyards, but this was a first. Its a funny feeling when you think people are sometimes buried and lost to history. Maybe not his case but is the case for some graves i have found, and one day he too will be forgotten.

 

[ivan salis]

how long ago did he pass on ? --you said you trailed it down ...wonder why he was buried there was the land his families long ago when he died and maybe he was buried "on the farm" so to speak..

 

[Terry Soloman]

Great post, and you guys handled it very well!

 

[vpnavy]

...This being a Civil War skirmish site I knew it was possible...I have concealed the deceased name for respect...

Jump over to CIVIL WAR: Search For Soldiers and see if his name is listed.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Now that's a find ! I believe you did the right thing. Just leave it where it was. I have done the same thing with ashes of pets that I have found in tins. Just re bury them. I have run across them 3 times while hunting Forest Preserves and wooded areas. Probably a favorite place the owner liked to walk their dogs. Never found a human cremation tin though. That's a new one.

 

[diggummup]

how long ago did he pass on ? --you said you trailed it down ...wonder why he was buried there was the land his families long ago when he died and maybe he was buried "on the farm" so to speak..

Appears to have passed in 2001 so not old at all.

 

[Reanm8er]

Well done!

 

[Riggleman]

The man lived from 1957-2001, 44 years old at time of death, as far as weve discovered there is no connection to the area, he was born, lived and died in a neighboring state 🤔

 

[A2coins]

I was wondering when someone would find a body eeehhhh

 

[BLK HOLE]

Wow, I think I would be a little freaked out and I think you guys did the right thing in covering him up and not disturbing the site.

 

[GB1]

That is creepy i would probably freaked out too

 

[Holyground]

If it was a dead Yankee, I would have taken the gold out of his teeth. I'm from Arizona. Most people don't know that we are a Rebel State. Rebel through and through.

 

[the_mad_cladder]

I was wondering when someone would find a body eeehhhh

yeah, that’s bound to happen eventually.

 

[diggummup]

The man lived from 1957-2001, 44 years old at time of death, as far as weve discovered there is no connection to the area, he was born, lived and died in a neighboring state 樂

Very strange how he ended up there.