When are you dead?

[MargeB]

How long do you have to be dead for, for it to be ok to open up your burial grounds for historical purposes?

[charliep88]

what in bloody ell are ye talkin aboot?

[smudge]

Do you mean for Archeological purposes MargeB?

[kempie]

This might be relevant.

[kaktus]

interesting question MargeB, if I understand Kempie's link right, in theory, and very unlikely, you could bury someone, and get the permission to dig him or her up again the next day for acheological purposes. Intriguing!

[kempie]

Trawling for that link it became apparent that, in regard of burial archaeology, the site is more important to the Powers That Be than the bodies are.

[MargeB]

Thanks for the good replies. I kind of meant archaeological reasons, yes. There seems to be a discrepancy between the consideration we would give to someone who was buried 20 years ago, but when it's someone who was buried 3000 years ago, no one really questions it at all. So...does the passage of time make it ok? Or is it because there is no one interested enough to object? They are both people's bodies, after all.

Interesting link too!

[kev100]

If it's someone buried 20 years ago their family are probably still around and possibly still grieving, if it's 3000 years ago it's just hunting for fossils.

[MargeB]

Would you mind if someone dug up your grave for a look around 10 years after your death? If yes, how about 200 years time?

[firefly]

If I'm dead it shouldn't matter. Digging up modern graves is usually done if a churchyard needs to be moved, Whether its ok or not is a different matter.

[smudge]

I'm going to be cremated, as I don't want to be disturbed once I've escaped this earth!

[woofgang]

When I was in the US I went to a lecture about the native American indians who had lived in the area (New Jersey). The chap giving it emphasised the dig had happened as a result of town expansion that the photos of burial sites and remains and artefacts had all be taken reverently according to the requirements laid down by surviving member of the tribe and that the remains had then been reverently reburied where they would not be disturbed again.

 The egyptians, as I understand it had their remains preserved for an afterlife, so maybe standing/lying around in museums is it??

[cassimer]

As an archaeology student we did a bit about this. In the main instance I know of, a modern burial site rested above an ancient one. Bodies were dug up and stored to be returned after the excavation. Ladies.... never be buried wearing nylon tights. Enough said. At one stage people were dying faster than the excavation, and so bits of trench wall were rebuilt to accomodate new burials. All I can say is that all the bodies were treated with respect, were blessed by the vicar and carefully reinterred. I dont think i'd mind that at all.

[smudge]

I am very interested in Archeology too, but I'm going to be cremated so no one can ever get to me!