Is it wrong to dig up ancient graves?
They need enough time and resources to excavate, examine and either rebury the remains, or preserve them in perpetuity — the legal term for forever. Lastly, it’s irresponsible for any one project to dig an entire site or all its burials.
Is it ethical to dig up human remains?
“It’s not okay to excavate human remains simply because we’re archaeologists and that’s what we do,” Sayer recently told Discover Magazine. He suggests that rescue excavations — where burial sites are about to be destroyed by natural disasters — are definitely permissible.
Why is it OK to dig up tombs?
6 days ago
“If you imagine bones that have been laying for centuries undisturbed in soil, they reach a kind of equilibrium with the soil around them, so the deterioration tails off, as it were,” he says. “If you dig them up, and then rebury them in another place, you get this fresh round of deterioration.”
Is it a crime to dig up a grave?
Digging up the dead Exhuming a corpse or interred ashes requires legal permission.
Is putting mummies on display ethical?
As in storage, displays of human remains must acknowledge that the remains were once a living person and respect this fact. Human remains should not be displayed if they are not central to the information being conveyed and this has led to removal of some skeletal remains from British Museum galleries.
Is grave robbing unethical?
Both archaeology and grave robbing can involve the act of uncovering a grave or tomb with the intent of removing the artifacts, corpses, or personal effects inside them, but only one of them is considered illegal in the United States.
Why are human remains important?
Ethnographic human remains are those that hold significance and meaning in different cultures throughout the world and were collected from living cultures. They represent views and practices in life, death, religion, war, spirituality and ritual.
Why do they dig up tombs in Egypt?
The Orthodox position (the Greek Orthodox Church setting the moral tone for the place) is that no particular steps had to be taken once the flesh was no longer on the bones. Because, in order to understand their own past, they need archaeology. And that does mean digging up dead people.
Under what conditions should archaeologists be allowed to excavate human remains?
While specific details vary, permission to excavate historic human remains generally requires obtaining permission from descendants, culturally affiliated groups, and other “interested parties.” Those same individuals also have a say in the disposition of the remains.
Where is it legal to bury a human?
If you are considering a home burial for a loved one, it is good to know that most states make it perfectly legal to take a body home from the hospital, nursing home, or other institution and bury it on your private property. Only Indiana, California and Washington State outlaw the practice totally.
Can you dig a body up and move it?
Before you begin, you’ll need what’s known as an exhumation license. This is a license or permit in order to dig up a grave and remove the body. The rules for applying for this depend on the state and possibly your city. You’ll need the authorization of the grave plot owner and burial authority.
Should human remains be on display?
Why can’t we dig up human remains from museums?
Although repatriating indigenous remains is a main objective of the NAGPRA law, many bones in museums are still unaffiliated, meaning they have not been linked with a contemporary group for return. Digging up human remains can run against the cultural and religious beliefs of certain groups.
Are there ethical issues with digging up tombs and bodies?
During my college classes and field training the ethical issues involved with digging up tombs and bodies were never raised. If I were ever confronted with excavating an ancient or medieval tomb, I would not have hesitated. Such is the attitude today among the vast majority of archaeologists.
Should Archaeologists excavate unthreatened burials?
To justify disturbing unthreatened burials, archaeologists need clear, important research questions that cannot be answered without excavation. And this can certainly be the case.
What do researchers need to know about excavating human remains?
Beyond that, researchers need a plan and personnel. They need enough time and resources to excavate, examine and either rebury the remains, or preserve them in perpetuity — the legal term for forever. Lastly, it’s irresponsible for any one project to dig an entire site or all its burials.