It would seem to me that if there are so many portable cemeteries in
Indiana, then perhaps one of the new laws you ought to be going for is one
that establishes a standard of graves identification so that GPR and other
methodologies are used to ensure all potential graves are properly located
and removed. Then it would also require the presence of a certified or
registered archaeologist to be present for any earth movement at the project
area and near that area of where the graves were exhumed.
At the very least this would establish a standard way of dealing with these
types of removals. As it is, there is far too much margin for error and,
those in the construction industry please forgive me, we know that many
equipment operators are not trained to identify bones or ignore them
entirely.
Removal of remains in a cemetery just so you can build on the land of their
last homes is insidious at best. To ignore that the lack of a grave stone
does not mean the lack of a grave is just stupid.
Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: <Jackbriles(a)aol.com>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Allen-Jenkins Cemetery Carr Twp. Clark Co.
In a message dated 4/28/05 12:39:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ssilver1951(a)jps.net writes:
> Jack,
>
> How have they identified all the potential graves in the cemetery? Do
> you
> know if the developer has been required to thoroughly search out any
> unmarked graves?
>
> Just curious.
>
> Sue
>
Sue,
I sent an E-mail to Jeannie Regan-Dinnus at the DNR and she doesn't
know anything for sure. The only ones that know there are unmarked graves
in the
cemetery is by relatives researching the EVENING NEWS OBITS.and by family
records of relatives being buried there. This gives the site of the
burial, and
since the very lack of stones anywhere with the names on them (29) a good
indicator that the locations are unknown. I don't know how the Funeral
Director
could possibly know where the burials are. But I Guess he can do $ 47,000
worth
of work and declare the job done. I guess the Health Dept. and the DNR
will
take his word for completion?? As long as a Judge says "Go Ahead" it's a
done
deal. I am going to find out when the Work will be done and be there to
photograph exactly how it is done. Unless I get a false date for the
moving like I
did for the Smith cemetery in Floyd Co. It;s funny, how anything as Solemn
as
moving Bodies is taken so lightly, To bad they are not NATIVE AMERICANS.,
they
would be afforded respect.
I suppose I will have to wish myself "Good Luck".
I know you will Sue,
Jack E. Briles Sr.
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