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Archiver > CEMETERY > 2000-09 > 0967813727


From: "Sue Silver" <>
Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Clarification of Request for Advice
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 06:08:47 -0700
References: <39AEA6B5.861E5456@virgin.net> <39AED91A.4EA2@netins.net>


I think this is very bad advice for the purpose that Susan inquired. No one
should do this type of work without the supervision of a qualified
archaeologist and most of it, at this time is unnecessary.

The very last thing you want to do before you have 1) photographed the site
in its existing state, 2) visually examined the ground and made notes of
surface features such as rock markers, wood remnants, etc., 3) researched
the documented and/or potential burials to better determine the number of
total potential graves within the grounds, is to scrape the surface.

Surface scraping, in my opinion would only be necessary if there were doubt
as to whether a cemetery could be used for current interments. Scraping
removes much or all of the surface evidence of graves left by loved ones and
friends at the time of burial and during visitations afterward.

The advice given here is an invitation to disaster if a qualified expert is
not involved with the project.

For anyone new to this field, please check out savinggraves.com and look up
some of the information available. You might also check with Lois Mauk of
the Indiana Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project website. These people have
it together, including how to start an organization and guidelines for doing
just the sort of thing Susan was asking about.

Sue Silver

El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission
member, California Historic Cemetery Alliance

P.S. Even at that not all archaeologists are experienced in historic
cemetery work. Most have been primarily involved in prehistoric study and
disciplines. What we, in our generation and society, is a new endeavor.
Let's not blow by not using common sense.
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia I. Shaw <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Clarification of Request for Advice


> What I really need help with trying to locate the graves from which
> the markers were removed.
>
> I received this today from the Burials Program Specialist at the Office
> of the State Archaeologist in Iowa:
>
>
> (1) conduct remote sensing to try to identify locations of grave
> shafts--this has been done successfully in similar situations.
> Unfortunately, our office does not have the necessary equipment, so it
> would be necessary to contract with a firm that does have the equipment,
> staff, and necessary experience. A guesstimate is that it could end up
> costing ca. $2000 or so.
>
> (2) another method that has been used successfully is to blade off the
> surrounding area with heavy equipment, removing the top soil, and then
> have
> archaeologists shovel skim the bladed area looking for dark stains
> representing grave shafts. These locations could then be mapped, the
> area
> recovered with the top soil, and boundaries erected. The Burials Program
> staff consists of me and a skeletal biologist, but we could both spend a
> day supervising the blading and doing the shovel skimming, but we would
> need some volunteers we could supervise to help with the shovel
> skimming.
> The city, the county, or someone local would have to provide the heavy
> equipment and operator to do the top soil removal and replacement.
>
>
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