Tom Harper
Jun 27, 2007, 09:42 AM
The discussion link for this topic is:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=705394
Any time you are on a historic site you are in close proximity to human remains. Modern use and erosion is likely to expose burials. It is important to recognize and report these.
Bone has a characteristic cellular pattern in cross section. If you don't remember it from biology class then check out a few web sites. Exposures in the ground look like plant roots or weathered rope.
The aerial photo below shows a wagon trail that creates a number of erosion cuts. These are places for exposed burials because wagon roads tend to follow water and are in areas of commercial interest. These are the same resources that attracted the ancients. In this case there is a pueblo ruin between the road and the river to the right.
After numerous visits to the site I realized that there were exposed burials in the erosion cuts. The one in the second photo is very obvious once you see it. The rib cage and finger bone are in plain sight. The exposure in the third photo is not as easy to see. The evidence is the white fragments that show the characteristics of bone. These burials are probably from around 1400.
These remains were on public land. They were reported immediately to the State Archeologist and then to the State Medical Examiner's Office. That is the proper procedure. The exact titles will vary with state and country, but the process will be similar.
Within two months the remains were recovered. They will be studied and then given to a Native American tribe for proper burial.
The forth photo is the surface exposure of a burial that probably dates from around 1100. It is a child. The burial is associated with a campsite. It is on private land and was reported to the land owner as well as the state authorities. The landowner brought out his security people, the local sheriff and the rancher who has a grazing lease. Before the remains could be properly removed they were stolen. MORAL - Tell the state and let them deal with it!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=705394
Any time you are on a historic site you are in close proximity to human remains. Modern use and erosion is likely to expose burials. It is important to recognize and report these.
Bone has a characteristic cellular pattern in cross section. If you don't remember it from biology class then check out a few web sites. Exposures in the ground look like plant roots or weathered rope.
The aerial photo below shows a wagon trail that creates a number of erosion cuts. These are places for exposed burials because wagon roads tend to follow water and are in areas of commercial interest. These are the same resources that attracted the ancients. In this case there is a pueblo ruin between the road and the river to the right.
After numerous visits to the site I realized that there were exposed burials in the erosion cuts. The one in the second photo is very obvious once you see it. The rib cage and finger bone are in plain sight. The exposure in the third photo is not as easy to see. The evidence is the white fragments that show the characteristics of bone. These burials are probably from around 1400.
These remains were on public land. They were reported immediately to the State Archeologist and then to the State Medical Examiner's Office. That is the proper procedure. The exact titles will vary with state and country, but the process will be similar.
Within two months the remains were recovered. They will be studied and then given to a Native American tribe for proper burial.
The forth photo is the surface exposure of a burial that probably dates from around 1100. It is a child. The burial is associated with a campsite. It is on private land and was reported to the land owner as well as the state authorities. The landowner brought out his security people, the local sheriff and the rancher who has a grazing lease. Before the remains could be properly removed they were stolen. MORAL - Tell the state and let them deal with it!