Burials

[eggbasket]

quote:Originally posted by drpeterwardle


In short - is it OK to excavate burials for research - rareley and only with some specific in mind.

Is it better that "human remains are removed in a methodical and respectful manner than some developer going through a graveyard with a JCB". This is actually a difficult question. Current thinking is that it is not worth while monitoring for example the insertion of shallow service trenches through grave yards.

Similarly if we are going to have to remove all human remains from a graveyard before it is disturbed how small to the bones have to be. 0.00001,.0001,0.001,0.01, .1 or 1m before they are disregarded.

The issues are complex.

While I agree that the issues are complex, I have to say that I disagree with your basic premise regarding research. I would say that it is OK as long as you have clearly defined research goals. Much like Deepdigger's comment that there is nothing more to learn from human burials, it misses the point. There is still a lot to be learnt from excavation of cemeteries, not necessarily on the individual level but certainly on the group level. All you need to do is look at regional research agendas to see how little we really know about anything.

With regard to your second point, it fails to address the issue of the wholesale removal of recently disused cemeteries in places like London by chaps with JCBs. I might be inclined to agree with your example but it is somewhat disingenuous to give an example like this as if it answers the question.

IMO the answer to the third point is that standard sampling techniques to recover the small bones should be used and that standard excavation techniques should be used to recover the rest. Personally, I see the question as more of a non-question because the commercial reality of the work will ensure that there will be limitations on the level of recording that can be done. BUT, it is still more respectful than hoiking them out of the ground with a JCB.

Regards,
Eggbasket

Preternatural eventuation is an amaranthine potentiality