New Age Grave Robbers

This is actually an ongoing debate in the fields of archaeology and anthropology. In general the consensus is that the graves could be examined but they should let the people of that culture decide what is appropriate.

For instance, at this point the Egyptians agree that opening graves older than a certain date is okay (they're fine with opening the tombs of people from Pharonic Egypt.) Now... what the culture and the times decide is sensitive is another kettle of fish, entirely. Some Native Americans don't want DNA extracted from these old bodies.

And then there's the battles between various groups over who has domain over that body.

Now... let me add another bit - sometimes the laboratories and museums provide a much safer place for these bodies. One of the bits of information I came across was that in the 1700's, mummies in Egypt were so plentiful that some of them were used as fuel for locomotives.

We will always do things to the dead. Cemeteries will not remain inviolate - moving bodies, destruction of graves by natural disasters, need to rebury bodies, etc.

In Florida you can metal detect on the beaches but not in the water. All the good stuff is reserved for the govenment and the rich!

a reply to: Byrd

hahah that is mentioned in the book I have cult of the immortal , the egyptians mummified everything they could