CEMETERY ETIQUETTE ??

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

Ok here are the rules....
Number 1 get caught go to jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

It is pretty much an understanding that cemeteries are off limits to MDing. Family of the deceased, towns people, ...... would not appreciate anybody hunting for stuff people may have left for the dearly departed. In respect to all those who are with us and those who are not, the majority of those who MD will not hunt in a cemetery.

[Stay out of detecting cemeteries......Period.]

Stay out of detecting cemeteries......Period.  Do you want to give them more reason to outlaw more ground that we could have searched.

If I see anyone detecting a cemetery, I might shoot them myself.....  I mean, your already in the "right place."

Im not trying to be rude, but what kind person has to ask if its ok to hunt in a cemetary?  The thought of that has crossed my mind i admit, but its just not right.

this is definitely a touchy subject... there have been similar threads before.  It usually falls into 2 camps... those who ADAMANTLY oppose detecting in cemeteries, and those who think it is just another piece of land and ok.

Detecting any public cemetery, historic or otherwise, tends to make people look at us as grave robbers.  We all know that we aren't going to be digging more than a few inches into the ground... but the perception is there.  Doing it where people are going to see you just worsens our collective reputation. The general consensus is that it is extremely disrespectful to detect in cemeteries, both to the dead, and their families.

I would just pass on cemeteries.  I was going to try to find an exception to that rule (I hate absolutes) and give a "for instance"... like there's a historical cemetery on my parent's farm hidden in the woods (i have one of those), or the owner of the land said it's ok... But every time I come up with a justification, I come back to "It is disrespectful."

If you find an old cemetery, do some research and see if there might have been a church there at one time. You don't have to go into the cemetery.

fastfingers,

see:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,61363.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,64213.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,71897.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,52824.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,35096.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,52327.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,6911.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,70182.0.html


have a good un............
SHERMANVILLE

yep there is a  "cemetery" etiquette about metal detecting ---and here it is---- DON"T---- since it is illegal in most places to "metal detect" in a known graveyard and even if its not illegal just about everyone still views it at the very least to be  highly immoral to metal detect in a "known" graveyard ---- please do not ask us to condone any such behavior---you've come to the wrong place for that ---sorry--- but thats the way it the just about everyone I know of feels about it (me included)---Ivan

Yep,  and since cemeteries are off limits, stay out of any battle sites, any skirmish sites, any parks where someone has died, any yard where someone has died, any carwreck, any plane crash since these are just as sacred as a cemetery.  I don't see a problem is you do it respectably and get permission.  If you get permission to detect then detect.  Stay away from graves and detect the vacant areas and the road and walk ways.  O,  I almost forgot to mention any boat that has sunk or any beach where someone has drowned or died.

I have hunted FOR a cemetery, but not necessarily in one. I was contacted by a land owner to find an 1862 yellow fever epidemic graveyard. The short of it, I found it by finding the coffin nails, (only about 4" down) once it was identified as the graveyard it was marked so it wouldn't be damaged, and that is ... the rest of the story.
HH Joe

Yep,  and since cemeteries are off limits, stay out of any battle sites, any skirmish sites, any parks where someone has died, any yard where someone has died, any carwreck, any plane crash since these are just as sacred as a cemetery.  I don't see a problem is you do it respectably and get permission.  If you get permission to detect then detect.  Stay away from graves and detect the vacant areas and the road and walk ways.  O,  I almost forgot to mention any boat that has sunk or any beach where someone has drowned or died.

What he said.

NEVER !!!!!

sorry but a  known graveyard is concidered by everyone that I know of as holy or "blessed" ground- thus the importantance of having or getting a "proper burial" for their loved ones to most people--and while it is true people have "died" all over the planet--- both in battlefields and in accidents (land and sea)---however  battlefeilds and accident sites while deserving respect are not concidered on the same level by most people as a cemetary as far as "holy or blessed ground" is concidered--- plus the detecting of the battle or accident sites often helps solve and find out what happened in the accidents or the battles---what happened in the accident or what caused it to happen and who was at what point / place in the battle--- thus allowing us to better understand the history of the events ---in a "known" graveyard there is no "mystery" at all=== mr joe smith was buried  there on june 12 ,1881---and digging in graveyards gives fuel to those who wish to paint us as cold hearted ghoulish grave robbing types --- this of course is just my veiw on the matter --Ivan

Spin all you want, but there is no difference.  Battlefields are considered hallowed,  just ask Abe. ;).  No one said to dig over the graves.  I have hunted them and will again if given the chance.  If you have permission go for it, but just use good judgement and don't make a mess.

i hate these threads
side note people die in spanish shipwrecks no ones crying about them getting "plundered"
pffft lame........
by the way thanks general sherm 

 I stay away from all Burial Grounds, everything else in my book is fair game.

 HH

I hate these subjects too...but....I dont think the actual hunting is the problem. Its what people will think when they see you. Whether you agree with it or not. NOONE seeing you will understand. I have seen on the net, in older times, visitors thought it was good luck to place 13 cents at the gates of a grave yard. Maybe thats a place ok to hunt? Or maybe not....HH dave :O)

     I wouldn't be caught dead detecting a cemetary. I'll leave that up to the people that have no soul.

King Tuts on display

i hate these threads
side note people die in spanish shipwrecks no ones crying about them getting "plundered"
pffft lame........
by the way thanks general sherm 

DeKalb,

"thanks general sherm".

Yes, it has a certain ring to it.

General Sherm.   ;)

They could name a town after me.
Just a small common mid-west town.
Generalville.
Has a nice ring to it

have a good un.....
SHERMANVILLE

In rural NY I knew an oldtimer that detected in a cemetery (early 1800's) near his house. He didn't find too much. But he did have a habit of repairing the headstones, cleaning vines off of them, etc. because the cemetery was not being cared for at all. He said it helped clear his conscience.

I wouldn't detect in a "modern" graveyard regardless of the laws (just due to the fact that they are private property), but I would detect "derelict" ones.


I think the argument hear boils down to those people who are religious and see this as desecration of something holy, and those that just see it as a place where dead folks are buried, and since they're dead how can they mind a little digging.

When one hunts in a cemetery, you do not know if you are over a gravesite or not.  That's the rub.  Many graves are unmarked.  I personally wouldn't mind hunting a cemetery, the top three inches, anyway, but I have to consider others' feelings, too.  I do not consider a cemetery "holy ground."  I consider it a place where dead people are buried (and some of you would consider me "religious").     However, not all people think like I do.  But in considering that people place momentos on graves that are special to them and the person buried there, I wouldn't want to disturb any of those items.  So, what's left to hunt in a cemetery?  Not much.  So I don't.

Well, since it seems to be a question of desecration, I guess I'll chime in:

1.)  If the proper rules of detecting are followed (filling your holes, picking up visible trash, leaving no sign you were there, etc.) then there is no vandalism or desecration.  We're not talking about grave robbing or digging for items buried with the deceased.  One would be looking for items that were dropped by the living.  Is a Barber dime that falls from a pocket in a cemetary and more sacred than one that falls in a park?

2.)  Of course one should not detect in an "active" graveyard.  Not because of some mumbo-jumbo about it being holy ground, but because it would make the mourners feel uncomfortable.  In long defunct cemetaries, where the grandchildren of the ones buried are long dead, your only obligation is to not vandalize and not disturb the graves themselves.  Christians themselves speak of "ashes to ashes, dust to dust"... the physical part of a person returns to the ground, while the soul travels beyond.  Coins and such are not part of the spirit world, they're minted for the use of the living.

3.) Today, at least, people buy their burial plots, making the area directly over the bodies PRIVATE PROPERTY... and since the owner CAN'T give permission, don't detect directly over graves. 

4.) Local laws and the rules of public vs. private property still apply

5.)  The idea of "what will people think" should be considered, but not be the final decision maker.  Every place we detect is considered "inappropriate" by someone.  Its part of the game.  If I stopped hunting in every public place that someone said "should you be hunting here?", I'd have no place to go.  If your in the right legally, it only comes down to how much scorn can you take.  I personally could care less about what others think of me, and I'll let them know that to their faces.

So, given these factors, I'd say I have no moral problem detecting for dropped items in 1.) long abandoned cemetaries, on 2.) public land, if the 3.) law permits, in 4.) areas not immediately around the graves.  But would I do it myself, probably not... only because there are plenty of other areas that are far less hassle. 

Well, I haven't weighed in on this one yet, so I'll cast my view on the topic.


NO, NO, NO.


Jim

aghhh ghouls gold 



be sure to wear a black hooded robe while doing it,the looks you would get are
bound to be priceless. 

that "park" is most likely a battlefield site ---the markers were site markers where people died or fought from at during the battle --the burial place for them was most likely a near by graveyard---some old vets or local historical sic. group most likely marked the spots from later and put stones to show people where things "happened"--folks may have died there but since some one cared enough to "remember" them --they were most likely "properly buried" as they would say back in those days in a graveyard near by---Ivan

When we hunt cemeteries we have a protocol which works... we get some old white sheets; cut eye holes in them and then don them at midnight.  Any interlopers are terrified by the sight of these wandering specters and leave us alone.  The tough part is getting the grass and dirt stains on our sheets after we dig a hole.   

Seriously though; If you had a loved one in a cemetery would you be comfortable with people tramping around digging little holes all over?  One needs to think of the perception the public will have of MD'ers if they see us doing this.  Where I live we have tons of abandoned cemeteries that date back to the mid 18th century - I often think - dang there must be some neat stuff dropped in there over the centuries - however the MD community frowns on crossing this line - and it is probably a wise decision not to.

Apart from all the reasons posted before my only question would be why? I mean, your best places to detect are where coins CHANGED HANDS. Not much buying and selling at cemetaries.... ;)

So...where did fastfingers go? Hasn't been here to respond. Hmmm. What's the matter fastfingers...afraid someone will tattle tale on you?

Here's hoping when you're slinking around the cemetery someone does see you and calls not only the police but the rich woman in town who is on the historical preservation society and doesn't like people like you. Every town and city has one of these women ( or men) and they are the ones that will make your life miserable. Forget about the police and any possible arrest for trespassing or vandalism.

It's the retiree know-it-all busybody or bored rich 'my husband knows the mayor' housewife you'll have to deal with. Heck, you'll be glad you were arrested so you can take shelter in the police car.

By all means... GO DIG A CEMETERY!

 

I've never mentioned this site on the board, but these have always been my best land sites ever. I've found large, 2 & 3 cent pieces, every kind of silver, stacks of indian head pennies. All in cemetarys. There were huge city cemetarys back home in Ohio and I had the blessing from the head of them So much that he stopped to see what I was digging one day, when I turned over the plug, it was an indian head cent. He went right out and bought a MD, we were good friends from then on. I walk the road side where they would have parked horse & buggy in the old day, and walk the isles in the old sections. Never once had a problem.

Ah yes, but you asked permission in the first place. That's the difference.

Ah yes, but you asked permission in the first place. That's the difference.

Didn't notice that the original poster said he wasn't going to ask for permission.  Also if you notice, on this and other posts on this topic, permission is always suggested.

I have been asked to help find corner markers for the plots in a cemetary. I'm going to check it out. Then I have permission to hunt the church and grounds around the cemetary. I would not hunt in the plot areas even if given permission.

The original poster made it sound like they were going to sneak in there and pull an Indiana Jones.

And as I said...where is the original poster? They haven't been back to discuss any of this, have they?

That leads me to think this original poster was in it for the treasure hunting adventure and not really all that responsible.

[What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?]

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

The original poster made it sound like they were going to sneak in there and pull an Indiana Jones.

And as I said...where is the original poster? They haven't been back to discuss any of this, have they?

That leads me to think this original poster was in it for the treasure hunting adventure and not really all that responsible.

Sorry, but if someone was going to "pull an Indiana Jones"  I really dont think they would care about the rules.

exactly

exactly

Sorry, I don't understand your comment.  If you read the original post, he was asking what the rules are.  That sure doesn't sound like a bad guy to me.

  It's my interpretation of his tone. Not his words. Never mind. It's just a touchy subject for most of us.

Just My 2 Cents
With the gaves being that old "1700s" there was most likely other structure such as a curch or homestead either one could be very productive. I personsally would not fell right about hunting around (ANY) well marked graves, or anyone that is still visited.
                                                                                        Silverhunter/dowser

Eventually you will spend a LONG time in a cemetery. For now, try to stay out of them.
Bob

CEMETERY ETIQUETTE----DON'T

Guidelines I use: 1. Get permission  2. Is it active or not?  3. Is the location going to attract a lot of curiosity or criticism-use tact when selecting prospective sites-only because, though you may have legal access, you may be offending others who don't understand your motives/hobby.

Thing is, just because something looks abandoned, doesn't mean it is abandoned.

My great-grandfather's grave has a foot marker, the shape looks like the Iron Cross - and has the letters CSA - one letter to each "arm" of the cross.  The foot of the cross is in the ground (that top 3 or 4 inches...).  I'd be mighty uh - cranky to find that cross had gone missing.  Actually, I'd be closer to downright surly.

This graveyard looked abandoned; it was overgrown with vines, some flowers, and we discovered after we'd cleared it out, it had poison ivy all over the place.  There are also a couple of graves without headstones, one smack up against the iron fence around the graveyard. 

I vote for "no" re detecting cemeteries.  Just outside the fence, and with permission?  Knock yerself out.

Do we not have enough places to hunt without having to go in cemetaries?   There seems to be enough ground elsewhere. 

Yep,  and since cemeteries are off limits, stay out of any battle sites, any skirmish sites, any parks where someone has died, any yard where someone has died, any carwreck, any plane crash since these are just as sacred as a cemetery.  I don't see a problem is you do it respectably and get permission.  If you get permission to detect then detect.  Stay away from graves and detect the vacant areas and the road and walk ways.  O,  I almost forgot to mention any boat that has sunk or any beach where someone has drowned or died.

Yep, gotta agree, if you can obtain permission go for it, the dead dont care..

Hunting cemeteries is despicable.

I can think of maybe, ummmmmm, like 10,000 different sites that would be more productive without being distasteful? ;)

Heres my 2 cents worth:
  I say no,no. Forget about what anyone thinks about religion or whatever. What you need to worry about is PUBLIC OPINION! 99.9% of all the hunting places is either private or public land. You need to have permission to metal detect. If someone sees anyone detecting in a cemetary, it's his perception of what is right or wrong that counts, not yours. This is the person whom you will be asking if you can detect his yard or on his farm or wherever. We don't need to get the public up in arms about where we can hunt.

Les

I can think of maybe, ummmmmm, like 10,000 different sites that would be more productive without being distasteful? ;)

Hunting cemeteries is despicable.

If done with permission and not hunting over graves, I don't think it is either distasteful or despicable.  But we all have our own opinions on this.

I hate these subjects too...but....I dont think the actual hunting is the problem. Its what people will think when they see you. Whether you agree with it or not. NOONE seeing you will understand. :O)

I agree.  Most people who have no experience with metal detectors have no idea of what a detector can and can't do.  For all the general public knows, you might be scoping out which coffin contains the most jewelry.

I hate these subjects too...but....I dont think the actual hunting is the problem. Its what people will think when they see you. Whether you agree with it or not. NOONE seeing you will understand. :O)

I aree.  Most people who have no experience with metal detectors have no idea of what a detector can and can't do.  For all the general public knows, you might be scoping out which coffin contains the most jewelry.
Really, do you think we dig down 6 feet?

No.  I repeat my last sentence: "For all the general public knows, you might be scoping out which coffin contains the most jewelry."

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

OMG what is wrong with society nowadays ,this is sick to even think about.
Now I am seeing alot of these questions and I cannot believe that some people would go into a sacred place like a cemetary and think of looking for goodies that others may have left behind for their loved ones.

My experience is that the actual plots have been purchased by families and even have a kind of a "deed" recorded. This in itself would deter me and i'm not going to call someone for permission to go dig around on their mothers grave for old coins. However; if there is a public parking site seperate from the cemetary that would be a possibility and probably the most productive.  Still I guess I would give it a Maybe. Wise words from all the posters here, consider them carefully.

  I don't know what's OK in your part of the country, but in this part you better be planting flowers or somebody if your digging in a cemetery around here. Folks around here wouldn't see it anyway but just wrong.     Good Luck

  I don't know what's OK in your part of the country, but in this part you better be planting flowers or somebody if your digging in a cemetery around here. Folks around here wouldn't see it anyway but just wrong.     Good Luck

Even if you were an Archaeologist?

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

OMG what is wrong with society nowadays ,this is sick to even think about.
Now I am seeing alot of these questions and I cannot believe that some people would go into a sacred place like a cemetary and think of looking for goodies that others may have left behind for their loved ones.

I get tired of these same typical answers.  A cemetery is no more sacred than a battle site, sunken ship or many other places where people have died.  Just remember that there are most likely remains still in battle fields and sunken ships.  But I guess if there isn't a stone saying there name, they do not deserve the same respect.  If you have permission and do not hunt over graves then go for it.  Also I could care less what someone thinks of me detecting there.  Just as many people get pissed if you hunt a park, so maybe we should just hunt our own yards and no where else.....

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

OMG what is wrong with society nowadays ,this is sick to even think about.
Now I am seeing alot of these questions and I cannot believe that some people would go into a sacred place like a cemetary and think of looking for goodies that others may have left behind for their loved ones.

I get tired of these same typical answers.  A cemetery is no more sacred than a battle site, sunken ship or many other places where people have died.  Just remember that there are most likely remains still in battle fields and sunken ships.  But I guess if there isn't a stone saying there name, they do not deserve the same respect.  If you have permission and do not hunt over graves then go for it.  Also I could care less what someone thinks of me detecting there.  Just as many people get pissed if you hunt a park, so maybe we should just hunt our own yards and no where else.....

Like I said before!!! You had better care what other people think about where you hunt or the only place you will have left to hunt IS your own yard. Plus, it is not just you that the public is precieving, it is all detectorist in the hobby.

Les

I hunt outside of the main walls or fence of Cemetary's. Insinde I feel people are laid to rest and I respect that!

   I have never MD'd a cemetary but I would IF and this is a big "IF" it were on private property AND is in an area out of sight of the public.  I don't mean this to sound as if I am a grave robber but read what I have to say before you immediately condemn or agree with me:  When I was a young pup in Alabama I grew up on a farm that had history dating back to the early 1800's.  The property had four "Master" houses and several slave quarters when my grandfather purchased the property in the 30's or 40's.  376 acres of property in rural Alabama near Cheaha mountain.  Now...on this property there are also graves of the plantation owners and the slaves from over a hundred and fifty years ago.  These graves have collapsed into the ground and don't have the headstones as you normally see.  We never disturbed the graves or filled them in and we probably should have filled them in but they were off in a grove of trees near the river, out of sight of the public and on land that we would never use for farming.  Most had no headstones of any type and looked like 6 foot long trenches dug into the ground about two feet deep.  The only reason I knew what they were is because my father told me when I asked.  Now...if my family still owned this property I would certainly use my metal detector "around" the graves but NEVER IN THE GRAVES.  I would never disturb anyone's grave but I certainly would detect around them.  I know of several old graveyards that go back to the late 1700's that are in the middle of the woods with no real markers to say who they are that I certainly would detect in but like I said above I would never dig into anyone's grave.  My two cents folks and please don't flame me for my thoughts.

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

OMG what is wrong with society nowadays ,this is sick to even think about.
Now I am seeing alot of these questions and I cannot believe that some people would go into a sacred place like a cemetary and think of looking for goodies that others may have left behind for their loved ones.

I get tired of these same typical answers.  A cemetery is no more sacred than a battle site, sunken ship or many other places where people have died.  Just remember that there are most likely remains still in battle fields and sunken ships.  But I guess if there isn't a stone saying there name, they do not deserve the same respect.  If you have permission and do not hunt over graves then go for it.  Also I could care less what someone thinks of me detecting there.  Just as many people get pissed if you hunt a park, so maybe we should just hunt our own yards and no where else.....

Like I said before!!! You had better care what other people think about where you hunt or the only place you will have left to hunt IS your own yard. Plus, it is not just you that the public is precieving, it is all detectorist in the hobby.

Les

  I have read many posts on this site saying how people were offended by people digging in parks and schools.  If you were so worried about the perception of our hobby, you should be telling everyone to stay out of them also.

If you find an old cemetery, do some research and see if there might have been a church there at one time. You don't have to go into the cemetery.

I agree wholeheartedly!  But if you go this route then make sure you stay out of the cemetery itself.  To a passerby it will still probably look like you are in the cemetery, especially if the church building itself does not survive.  Start as far away as you can and then work your way closer.  An adjoining old church site will be much more lucrative than the cemetery anyhow.  Hit the books!

If it is a cemetery on private land, and you have permission, go ahead, but dig carefully!  In rocky soil, graves can be SHALLOW!  I really have no earthly idea how one would ask a property owner this question and it come across right...  I was granted permission to hunt a site that had some graves on it once, and I steered clear of them.  You could tell where they were--depressions in the ground, and unmarked--so I hunted elsewhere.  It was on an old "poor" farm in Virginia.  I found 15 or so silver coins there.  I kept some distance between myself and the graves, and didn't detect on top of them.

Buckleboy

When I first got permission to hunt the old Church, I stayed clear of the cemetery, worked the border, but stayed out of the actual yard.  The care taker of the Church came by and told me to MD the cemetery to see if there was anything there.  80% of the people buried there are his family memebers.  So I did.  The only things I found IN the cemetery was the pocket change he lost cutting the grass, and some foil and wire from old flower decorations. 

The second time I detected a cemetery, a co-worker asked I go the the old church location his grandfather was buried at.  The gravestones date back to the late 1700's.  He told me he lost a ring there a few years ago while visiting his grandfathers grave.  So I met him there and searched for a couple hours, I only found 3 pull tabs, a few fake flower stems and a couple old broken pot metal funeral home signs.

Bottom line, people just don't seem to lose things in cemeteries.  So I only go into cemeteries to get a feel on the age of a Church, because unless you are looking for gold teeth at 6 feet, you aren't going to find anything in a cemetery.

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

OMG what is wrong with society nowadays ,this is sick to even think about.
Now I am seeing alot of these questions and I cannot believe that some people would go into a sacred place like a cemetary and think of looking for goodies that others may have left behind for their loved ones.

I get tired of these same typical answers.  A cemetery is no more sacred than a battle site, sunken ship or many other places where people have died.  Just remember that there are most likely remains still in battle fields and sunken ships.  But I guess if there isn't a stone saying there name, they do not deserve the same respect.  If you have permission and do not hunt over graves then go for it.  Also I could care less what someone thinks of me detecting there.  Just as many people get pissed if you hunt a park, so maybe we should just hunt our own yards and no where else.....

Like I said before!!! You had better care what other people think about where you hunt or the only place you will have left to hunt IS your own yard. Plus, it is not just you that the public is precieving, it is all detectorist in the hobby.

Les

  I have read many posts on this site saying how people were offended by people digging in parks and schools.  If you were so worried about the perception of our hobby, you should be telling everyone to stay out of them also.

  I really don't know how to reply, except to say that if you really don't know the difference than maybe you c
should take up knitting instead of metal detecting.

Les

[quote author=
Bottom line, people just don't seem to lose things in cemeteries.  So I only go into cemeteries to get a feel on the age of a Church, because unless you are looking for gold teeth at 6 feet, you aren't going to find anything in a cemetery.
[/quote]
Not true.

Not to offend anyone but I feel questions like this aren't worthy of a comment either way.Like someone stated earlier....what do you expect to find there?......I just dont get these questions.

But i will say being a graduate from a NY college of funeral service,as well as having had a career in this field for several years(all aspects)of it from embalming to burials.It really bothers me that out of all the places,nooks and crannies on the face of the earth people have to look every now and then theres that one person that wants to hunt a cemetery.

If you gotta ask yourself: hhhmmmmmm theres grave stones and a fence around it!!..yet I'm dying to get in and detect(chances are it's wrong not to mention immoral)...don't worry you'll have your turn eventually

Secondly: the relatives of the deceased sometimes leave things on or around head stones that have meaning to them or their relative that's laid to rest...i.e.stones,coins,flags,notes/letters.Nick naks and so on(just because there may be an Indian head penny,some change,or flowers there should you take them because your a collector of those coins or because the flowers would look pretty on your dining room table)...the answer is...HELL NO...whats wrong with some people.

Lastly: I don't think it is a question of digging 6 inches or 6 ft. deep it's just not the right thing to do..regardless of religious beliefs,the idea of it being sacred or any other reason.Bottom line in hunting cemeteries could be detrimental to the metal detecting hobby,and we don't need to walk around with that black eye.

and i understand your a newbie(I'm relatively new to the hobby as well)but I've never walked past a single cemetery with an urge to wanna detect it what so ever,I'm sorry if I offended you or anyone else because that's not my intent.
 
     just my opinion
        ~Shawn~

    Think about it: Not a Soul in any Cemetery is there to care, it's the living that have a problem seeing anyone hunting in a Graveyard,will it make a difference 100 years from now?,I think not!,,anyway's,,all of you guys have my permission to hunt around my Grave when I kick the bucket, I don't care,I may even have my family to spead some old coins around my grave for you'all<G>. my soul will be long gone then, by the way the best coin Ive seen to come from a graveyard was a 1857 one dollar gold coin!! No I wasn't the one who found it.
                                                                         Les

Hadn't seen this topic for a while, and was kinda hoping that it was long dead (pun intended)

regardless of anyone's personal beliefs, much of what we do in our lives (not specifically to mding) is judged on public perception.  When anyone detects a cemetery, the public perception is that WE are grave robbers.  Wheter you believe it is right or wrong, the perception it conveys is one that HURTS everyone in our community.

steve

Graveyards are for the living, not the dead.  If it's several hundred years old and abandonded, then I guess no one would care. But people consider this sacred ground, I don't because of the dead, but the living. Respect that, there are too many other, and better, places to detect.  Think if I were buried there and my daughter visited and left her ring or necklace near my head stone as a rememberance thing, that is something you don't mess with.  If you came by and swung your coil over it, I would either reach up and grab your coil and pull you down with me, or drag chains through your attic the rest of your life. 

And the many other reasons here.

Time to bury this thread.

One poster mentioned he hoped he didn't offend, I'm offended
anyone would consider hunting a graveyard for any reason. It's
a thing called respect, a final resting place. How greedy can one
get to pick over a place like this, you might as well mug an old
lady coming out of church, IMHO. We get enough bad publicity
from those who don't understand our sport. I wouldn't be caught
dead or alive swinging a detector in a graveyard. Call it HONOR.

One poster mentioned he hoped he didn't offend, I'm offended
anyone would consider hunting a graveyard for any reason. It's
a thing called respect, a final resting place. How greedy can one
get to pick over a place like this, you might as well mug an old
lady coming out of church, IMHO. We get enough bad publicity
from those who don't understand our sport. I wouldn't be caught
dead or alive swinging a detector in a graveyard. Call it HONOR.

that poster was me ..what i meant was that I hoped anyone reading it that saw nothing wrong in hunting a cemetery or even the original poster of the question didn't take my comment as derogatory and/or taking a shot at them in any way..Sometimes people reading comments may not see it from the writers point of view and its contents may be skewed

What are the rules for MD'ing cemeteries?  There's an old one down the street. The headstones are from the 1700's.  I would love to get in there.

OMG what is wrong with society nowadays ,this is sick to even think about.
Now I am seeing alot of these questions and I cannot believe that some people would go into a sacred place like a cemetary and think of looking for goodies that others may have left behind for their loved ones.

I get tired of these same typical answers.  A cemetery is no more sacred than a battle site, sunken ship or many other places where people have died.  Just remember that there are most likely remains still in battle fields and sunken ships.  But I guess if there isn't a stone saying there name, they do not deserve the same respect.  If you have permission and do not hunt over graves then go for it.  Also I could care less what someone thinks of me detecting there.  Just as many people get pissed if you hunt a park, so maybe we should just hunt our own yards and no where else.....

Like I said before!!! You had better care what other people think about where you hunt or the only place you will have left to hunt IS your own yard. Plus, it is not just you that the public is precieving, it is all detectorist in the hobby.

Les

  I have read many posts on this site saying how people were offended by people digging in parks and schools.  If you were so worried about the perception of our hobby, you should be telling everyone to stay out of them also.

  I really don't know how to reply, except to say that if you really don't know the difference than maybe you c
should take up knitting instead of metal detecting.

Les

No, LES please explain the difference between a battle field, sunken ship,  plane crash site and a cemetery.  Please help me before I need to learn how to knit one pearl two.  Don't give me the same old excuses about it being sacred, or a family carrying.  I bet if you were to ask the families of fallen soldiers, sailors, or crash victims they would consider that ground sacred also.  And to help you out,  I NEVER ONCE SAID TO HUNT OVER A GRAVE.  So before you come up with some other smart butt comment read everything I wrote.

Unearthed- just used that opening about the word offend. Wasn't directed at any person, just the whole idea in general. No intention
at all of taking a shot at anyone, sorry if you thought otherwise.
I only get slightly riled up in the political threads. LOL

No, LES please explain the difference between a battle field, sunken ship,  plane crash site and a cemetery.  Please help me before I need to learn how to knit one pearl two.  Don't give me the same old excuses about it being sacred, or a family carrying.  I bet if you were to ask the families of fallen soldiers, sailors, or crash victims they would consider that ground sacred also.  And to help you out,  I NEVER ONCE SAID TO HUNT OVER A GRAVE.  So before you come up with some other smart butt comment read everything I wrote.

 I really don't want to get drawn into this argument so I'll just put in my two cents and run away real quick like....


 Difference between a battlefield, sunken ships, a plane crash site, and a cemetary is....

 One has headstones sticking up all over the place. Its not so much the dead bodies as it is the public's perception.

 Not many would look twice if you were detecting in a grassy field that used to be a battlefield.
 Not many sightseers out on the open ocean as well.
 Plane crash sites? Depends on where it crashed, I guess. How far out is it? Doubtful there'd be many headstones, anyways.


 But detecting anywhere near headstones is gonna get you unwanted attention, I'll bet.


 No matter where you detect, someone probably died there at some point. Thats no biggie. Heck, I just watched a kid get mowed down in traffic a couple weeks ago, I'd have no problem detecting the area where it happened, its right next to a store and probably loaded with coins.

 But if someone puts up a marker there, you can bet someone will get bent out of shape if they see me there. Almost a guarantee in todays victim society. Someone will be offended!

 Thats what I choose to avoid.

Unearthed- just used that opening about the word offend. Wasn't directed at any person, just the whole idea in general. No intention
at all of taking a shot at anyone, sorry if you thought otherwise.
I only get slightly riled up in the political threads. LOL

I know tubecity no offense(lol) taken here,i just wanted to explain the word offend in my post is all.

also politics and religion are two subjects that always can never seem to find common ground,and both sides of the fence can never just agree to disagree.

very bad taste to detect there..and rather on the rude side as well...go on if u wish..but mind you... sleep with a light on...cause a few may follow ya home..... but you wont catch me diggin in no cemetery....its also called respect for the dead..what next diggin into the coffins...

I got the ok to hunt an old cemetory. It was real old,most of the dates were gone from the stones. Real creepy. Trust me I was told by those buryed there to get out and never come back. I never did or will I.   Mike.

Yes if you don't want trouble stay out of the grave yard