This message was on another list - Indiana makes Snohomish look good! - Diane From: Derre Maybury <derre@batelco.com.bh > IMPORTANT!! I feel all should read this! This is horrible. They can just dig people up without the permission of their > >families? Even then the thought is gruesome.Derre > > > >> The note about the Smith cemetery in Kentucky was of concern to me, since > I am > >> also looking for a Smith line that originated in Virginia and migrated to > >> Kansas by way of Kentucky. We are in danger of losing a lot of historical > >> information by the disregard being shown for ancient cemeteries. I had always > >> believed they were considered "sacred" and would never be moved, but > >> obviously, this was an error. > >> Now, please read on, about an issue of real concern...in an area where many > >> Culpeper residents and descendants (including the Wilhoit/Wilhites) were laid > >> to rest: > >> > >> Subj: [INPCRP-L] University of Indianapolis > >> Date: 1/21/99 9:14:19 PM Central Standard Time > >> From: LawOfficeInformationSystem@worldnet.att.net (Lois Mauk) > >> To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com > >> > >> In the case of Rhodes Cemetery near Indianapolis, two years ago, the bodies > >> of 35 children and 8 adults were removed from their burial places to make > >> way for a warehouse being constructed by Duke Realty. > >> > >> In the case of Wilhoit Cemetery in Dubois County, the remains of up to 69 > >> individuals were exhumed last summer to make way for the construction of a > >> new home. > >> > >> In the case of Tucker Cemetery in Shelbyville, the remains of numerous > >> individuals were exhumed a few weeks ago after their brick-lined burial > >> vaults were discovered during the construction of a wastewater lagoon. > >> > >> In each of these instances (and likely many, many more), the remains were > >> excavated and delivered to a laboratory at the University of Indianapolis, > >> WHERE THEY STILL REMAIN, ostensibly for the purposes of "archeological > >> research". > >> > >> Under current state law, it appears that the University of Indianapolis has > >> been designated as the "official" repository for many of our ancestors and > >> predecessors' remains. > >> > >> The name of Stephen P. Nawrocki, Ph.D., has come up in connection with two > >> or more of the above situations. He is the Director of Osteology (PhD > >> SUNY-Binghamton 1992, DABFA 1996; Associate Professor of Biology): skeletal > >> biology, forensics, skeletal age estimation, biostatistics, taphonomy, > >> osteoarcheology, historic cemeteries. > >> > >> Tonight I wrote to Dr. Nawrocke <his e-mail address is > >> nawrocki@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU> asking him to disclose to me, under the Freedom > >> of Information Act or other legislation: > >> > >> (1) The names of all the cemeteries from which the U of I laboratory is > >> presently in custody of human remains from said cemeteries; > >> > >> (2) The number of persons' remains presently in the custody of the U of I > >> laboratory; and > >> > >> (3) The projected timetable for the reinterment of said remains and the name > >> of the persons or entities responsible for the cost of said reinterment. > >> > >> HOWEVER, I have just read the "HUMAN REMAINS POLICY for the University of > >> Indianapolis Archeology & Forensics Laboratory", which can be found at: > >> http://www.uindy.edu/~archlab/policy.html > >> > >> The first paragraph of their Disclosure Policy states: > >> > >> "(1) For reasons of confidentiality, propriety, due > >> process, site protection, and security, we generally > >> do not discuss human remains cases with the public, > >> the press, or with agencies not directly involved in > >> an investigation. We will not reveal the locations > >> of any archeological sites or recovery scenes nor > >> the names of other individuals involved. Exceptions > >> may be made in situations where public or professional > >> education is deemed appropriate and beneficial, but > >> will occur only when permission for disclosure has > >> been obtained from the individual(s) or agencies for > >> whom the consulting services are being provided." > >> > >> Paragraph 7 of the Human Remains Policy is pretty interesting: > >> > >> "(7) Our laboratory curates human skeletal remains on > >> both a temporary and permanent basis, and we use these > >> remains in teaching and research. We will accept human > >> remains from archeologists, museums, and private > >> individuals for permanent curation." > >> > >> Paragraph 8 states: > >> > >> "(8) We believe that all human remains and associated > >> artifacts represent the collective heritage of humanity > >> as a whole and that their study provides important > >> scientific information concerning the human condition > >> -- past, present, and future. Regardless of their age > >> or ancestry, human remains excavated by plan or by > >> accident should be fully analyzed, and we argue against > >> their wholesale and indiscriminant repatriation or > >> destruction prior to study." > >> > >> Paragraph 24 is really interesting: > >> > >> "(24) Sufficient time should be allocated for the > >> scientific study of archeological human remains and > >> grave goods before reburial. Periods measured in days > >> and weeks are unreasonably short. Months or years are > >> more appropriate in most cases."