Archeology / Grave robbing

[keithlbw]

( previously posted on Body and Soul )

Where does archeology stop and grave robbing / desecration begin. Is there a time limit on when graves can or cannot be opened and bones examined and items removed such as jewels etc.

[Octavius]

The Treasure Act 1996 refers. Treasure is now defined as:-

- All hoards of gold or silver coins at least 300 years old (a hoard is defined as two or more coins found in close proximity)
- All hoards of other coins with a precious metal content of less than 120% and at least 300 years old (a hoard is defined as ten or more coins found in close proximity).
- Objects at least 300 years old with a minimum precious metal content of 10%.
- Objects found in archaeological association with treasure.
- Any object over 200 years old of outstanding historical, archaeological or cultural importance.

[Octavius]

Cont'd because AB doesn't like full and proper (long) answers - kept getting an error page. Under the Act, the finder is responsible for reporting them to the District Coroner within 14 days. Human remains and disused burial grounds are also protected by law (Human Tissues Act 2004). A licence from the Home Office is required before disturbing any human remains where their presence is known or suspected. Should human remains be discovered accidentally then the Coroner should be informed, as well as the County Archaeological Service.

[keithlbw]

Thanks Octavious

[SaxyJag]

The law aside, one of the prime aims of the archaeologist is the preservation of artefacts. If it's thought that artefacts will be at a higher risk of deterioration in the ground than if they're removed, then they'll be removed.

The opposite is also true. If they're thought to be safer where they are, then they'll be left until science has found a suitable alternative method of excavation/preservation. Sometimes this never happens.

Whatever happens to them, they are carefully plotted, examined and recorded so that future generations can learn from their discovery. That is archaeology.

Grave robbing is done by the indiscrimate 'digger' who sees the goods and takes them for his/her own gratification (financial or otherwise - look what I found!). He/she rarely records accurately, if at all, and anything we may learn from the context of the 'grave' (such as whether the jewel was found near the throat or the waist, for instance) has been lost.

Oh, and anything you do find, treasure trove or otherwise, has to be offered to the landowner (from whom you should have sought permission to dig in the first place), because it's technically their property.