My sincerest apologies to the list. I guess I'm the one that doesn't
understand the scope of this group and how a private meeting of a professional
organization that I doubt anyone on this list could attend if they wanted to
pertains to what I thought we were to be discussing here.
I would think the more proper discussion here would be what to do if you
discovered bone fragments or human remains in a pioneer cemetery, and leave
the examination of the same to the experts. My original concern was simply
that educating people in areas they have no business being educated in can
be more trouble than it's worth. I've been around a while and can attest
to the fact that some people think that after a few hours of discussion,
they're an expert in something. It's bad enough that some people can 'read
up' on tombstone restoration and then think they're experts, only to find
out, after it's too late, that they caused more harm than good...can any one
say CONCRETE?
The last thing this list needs is someone attributing their desire to study
bones found in a cemetery to it, or even worse, getting caught digging
around where they shouldn't. Remember, even probing is illegal, let alone,
disturbing human remains.
I would have rather the discussion centered on something that all of us
could be reminded of...who to contact and what NOT to do if we ever come upon
human remains. Marilyn is absolutely right that the bones and artifacts
are sacred. Sacred enough to me that I feel our extent of involvement
should be enough so that we 'cause no harm'. Delving into more than that can
only set things up for someone to do something beyond their scope of
intelligence or common sense...and cause irreparable harm. The seminar referenced
earlier was well beyond any 'cause no harm' ideology.
I'm sure I offended many with my rebuff of the content of the
discussion...it's not the first time and it probably won't be the last... but a
case in
point, this list has, over the last 12 years or so, helped me to know one
thing about cemetery restoration..and that is it's best left to the
experts. I feel no different about the topic of "excavation, curation, and
analysis of human skeletal remains". Just the sound of that scares me, and I'm
fearless! It also reaffirms my suspicions that some things should be left
to those who know what they are doing, and too much information in the wrong
hands can be dangerous.
Kyle D. Conrad
In a message dated 10/5/2009 2:23:19 P.M. Central Standard Time,
LAClugh(a)comcast.net writes:
Well put, and why do we need stomp on anyone?
Really, he was just sharing information.
la
----- Original Message -----
From: <Tewastar(a)aol.com>
To: <inpcrp(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 7:43 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Excavation, Curation,and Analyis of Human Skeletal
Remains
we all need to be informed about skeletal remains and their origin
or we
risk leaving the door open
for misuse of remains.
When we educate ourselves then we are informed...be it skeletal remains
or
funerary objects
or associated artifacts........all burial sites are sacred~!!!
yours/mine/theirs
and this is also precisely why we have the _Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act_ (
http://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/)
and for those who are not interested...then merely delete...Thank you!!
Marilynn Crelier
Retired NM Tribal Court Judge
Native Hoosier [P'ton]
IU Alumni
[which is why I am on this list serve and remain very interested]
This list is for sharing pioneer cemetery questions, ideas and
restoration
projects.
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This list is for sharing pioneer cemetery questions, ideas and restoration
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