should i or not?

[strokerduster]

this may be controversial but not intended to cause alot of bs. problem is, i have a large indian mound on my property (it's actually only a few feet from my house) and i'm trying to make up my mind to dig in it or not. it's not like a burial mound but what they call around here, cooking mound or trash mound. it's probably 20' tall on the backside and another smaller mound on the opposite side of the creek. i have a lot of arrowheads i just picked up off the ground and think on one hand, what a nice collection would look like in a display case in my den ("OH I GOT EM IN THE YARD"). on the other hand , they have been there 5 to 6 thousand years and what right do i have to disturb em since i'm just passing thru in time. not a life or death situation but something to ponder no mater what brand of tractor you would use to dig it out with. what would you do? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif see exhibit A & B

 

[strokerduster]

exhibit B /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Cowboyjg]

Personally......I think you are quite fortunate to have such a connection to the past right in your own back yard. Why not allow a/the local University to conduct a dig and gather info to share with the masses or something similar. I'm sure they would conduct themselves in a respectful manner and provide the rest of us with some insight as to the events of the day..back in the day. You, on the other hand, will have provided generations to come with knowledge.

Just a thought from a humble guy who respects where we came from.

 

[Jim57]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Personally......I think you are quite fortunate to have such a connection to the past right in your own back yard. Why not allow a/the local University to conduct a dig and gather info to share with the masses or something similar. I'm sure they would conduct themselves in a respectful manner and provide the rest of us with some insight as to the events of the day..back in the day. You, on the other hand, will have provided generations to come with knowledge.

Just a thought from a humble guy who respects where we came from. )</font>

Sounds like a Great Ideal there. Could even put you in the history books as well. It would be interesting to see and know the history and details that those mounds could reveal.

Just my opinion... It could be a very good learning tool and maybe even provide some serious information on taking care of our precious land that is not being produced any longer.

Jim

 

[inveresk]

Last house I built in Scotland was for myself and was located in an area scheduled as an ancient monument site. As a condition of consent to construct, I had to engage an archaeological team who poured over the excavations, much of which were dug by hand. They came up with some Roman pottery shards and some other stuff but nothing really worth keeping. Your remains sound as if they're worth investigating and a university dig might be fun to watch. I suppose the local first nations tribe would have to be advised this was going on, too, so they could monitor?

 

[EddieWalker]

Before I notified any type of official type agency, and especially a University, I'd research into the pro's and con's of makeing something like that public knowledge. They might be a dime a doze in your area and not contain a singal artifact, but if there is something there, you could be in for a huge nightmare.

Never, ever, ever let the government in on anything your up to unless your willing to deal with the worse case scenario.

If you want it gone, do it quickly and quietly. If anybody asks, you don't know anything about it, never seen it or even know that Indians were in your area. It worked for OJ, deny, deny, deny!!!!!!!

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[Jim57]

You do have a valid point there Eddie!! That is definately some good information to ponder before taking action. A very careful evaluation of the situation is definately warranted.

Jim

 

[DannyD]

Related situation, many years ago in my old home place area they were building a road..............there is now a split in that road. Seems the backhoe guy dug up some bones........Native American burial ground, sacred, build road AROUND it.

Now I am all for the sacred burial grounds, would not destroy one, or anything like them.........

 

[beenthere]

Maybe carefully check the Texas law as well as the Federal Law.

I searched Indian Mound Protection Texas and the Fed law as of 1990 looks pretty daunting. I'd be real careful, no matter how 'unimportant' it seems to you. I don't think I would want one on my property.
http://www.ibsgwatch.imagedjinn.com/learn/laws.htm

Wish you good luck in your decision.

 

[AntrimMan]

Land along streams and around lakes is often dotted with the remains of nomads. American Indians, Portuguese, French, English and many others have had roving bands up and down this huge land. When I'm dead they can do what they like with me, I really don't care. While I'm alive I would resist the disturbance of my ancestors regardless of national origin. RIP doesn't mean to be dug up and moved every now and then. All this nonsense said, before the first excavation occured at this site, my home is on a lake formed on a prior stream, I discussed with the operator what would happen if we hit bones. We didn't hit any and I'm not convinced he wouldn't have changed his tune if we hit a bunch anyway. The deal was to keep mum, it wouldn't have worked because as long as there are two people involved one of them can't be trusted. You should have kept the secret if it was one but more likely it is a well known fact that artifacts are to be found in your area and in your yard. It's best to let sleeping dogs lay. A recent and deeply disturbing trend is to take property by eminent domain and give it to another private party in the guise of public interest. I am on the record elsewhere and have no fear repeating "from my cold head hands and don't come alone". I undergo a noticeable physical change whenever I think of it. Be cautious of whom locally you tell about the artifacts, they could take your castle away from you and build a museum. So, the stone has two sides, niether of which is without merit, your interest or the public (government). You are the only one to choose to live with the consequences. Surely something similar has happened locally in the recent past. Do your research in silence so as not to attract attention. All we are really talking about is what used to be the local tip anyway so what is the big deal? If there are piles of this stuff all over the place then a precedent will have been made, if not, keep your head low if that is possible and be sure to pay your taxes /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

All the best,
Martin