cemetery preservation beginners workshop
TRANSCRIPT
A Grave Matter in Indiana
Part of our cultural landscape
The size, ornamentation, and documentation of European sites varies
Native American Sites vary by time period, cultural group, and family beliefs
Legal Protection of Cemeteries
Cemeteries Today
• Today more and more of these lost cemeteries in Indiana have been unearthed because of the sprawl construction.
• Accidental discoveries occur.• Constituents are more and more concerned
about this and have begun lobbying.• Convinced legislature to pass laws.
Indiana Laws
IC 14-21-1-13.5 Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources – Division of
Historic Preservation and Archaeology to conduct a survey
program of every cemetery and burial ground in Indiana
GOAL • It is estimated that there are 20,000 sites in the state.
• Only one staff member given the responsibility to work on this project.
• Therefore, need to rely on volunteers.
GOALS
• Location• Location• Location• Did I mention,
location?
• Art/architecture• General religion• General ethnicity• Condition• Resources
Why DNR?
• 1966 Historic Preservation Act
• Responsibilities• DHPA
Cemetery Registry
Form
SHAARD• Online database of historic resources in
Indiana.
• For cemeteries, have “A” – “Ripley” in the database (other counties past “Ripley” are also in) with more every day
• Always looking for more and corrected information/data.
www.in.gov/dnr/historic/4505.htm
Indiana LawsIC 14-21-1-7
Defines human remains
IC 14-21-1-24 and IC 35-43-1-2.1
Makes it illegal to farm or conduct animal husbandry in a cemetery
IC 14-21-1-26.5
A person may not disturb the ground within 100 feet of a burial ground for the purpose of excavating or covering over the ground or erecting, altering or repairing any structure without having a development plan approved by DHPA
Indiana Laws
IC 14-21-1-27A person finding human remains must notify DHPA
within two days. Reburial will in in compliance with state laws.
IC 14-21-1-28Makes it illegal to disturb the ground for the purpose of
discovering or removing artifacts, burial objects, grave markers, or human remains without a plan with the DHPA.
Probing Requirements
• WRITTEN landowner permission• Training• Application per cemetery• 6 Inch depth • Not for graves or burials – for tombstones ONLY
It’s good for one year with a possibility of a year extension.
Things to remember about probing• Before beginning to probe, repair all possible stones with pieces found in
the cemetery. The piece missing might simply be stacked in the corner of the cemetery.
• The probe should be solid-tipped and be blunt-ended; no hollow-core probes. Do not use longer probes as they may penetrate the coffin chambers and contact human remains. Despite common belief, historic graves are rarely as deep as six feet.
• Create a systematic probing approach; random probing will not help find stones.
• Identify the most likely place there were stone would be located (i.e. near the head of the grave).
• Have an understanding of grave orientation. Most historic graves are oriented east-west with the head to the west.
• Cleaning stones• Mowing or other
maintenance• Repairs• Digging hole for
placement of new base
• Taking stone out of ground if you can see it.
Don’t Need DHPA Permit For
• To stick a rod, stick, bar, trowel - ANYTHING in the ground to find a tombstone or grave marker that cannot be seen from above ground
You Do Need a DHPA Permit to
Indiana Laws
IC 14-21-1-29If you find an artifact, notification of our department
must be within two days.
IC 14-21-2Discusses removal of grave memorial with a new stone
must be reported to the County Recorder; Makes selling grave artifacts illegal
Indiana Laws
IC 14-21-3
Before a person buys property containing a cemetery, the current owner must record the deed in the recorder's office with CEMETERY in bold, capital letters on the bottom of the deed
IC 23-14-26
Discusses the creation of Cemetery Commissions at the county level
Indiana LawsIC 23-14-57
Describes how cemeteries and human remains are disinterred
IC 6-1.1-6.8
A person with a cemetery on his/her land may have the value of the land (where the cemetery is located) accessed for $1.00 per acre.
IC 23-14
Defines a cemetery, discusses care of cemeteries in use, surveys of cemeteries, and other aspects of cemeteries in use.
Indiana LawsIC 23-14-68
Care of Cemetery by Township*In Existence before February 28, 1939*Taxes are not paid on the property*Not managed by any viable organizations*Cemeteries without funds for maintenanceDefines what the Township Trustee must do
*Reset and straighten all monuments*Level and seed the ground *Construct fences*Destroy detrimental plant, noxious weed, and rank vegetation
IC 35-43Criminal Mischief - allows for a person to be convicted under the criminal mischief law if they vandalize a cemetery
To see the entire law, go to http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/ put in the code and the law will be
displayed
Finding cemeteries
• Witching• Ground penetrating
radar• Archaeology
• Depressions• Physical Evidence• Creeping
myrtle/natural environment
What is the best way to record the location of a cemetery?
TOPOS
Soil Maps
Historic Maps
Written/Deeds
GIS/GPS
Definitions
• GIS – geographic information systems
• GPS – global positioning systems
Signs
Preservation Issues
Long Standing Issues
No Documentation
Money
Knowledge
Other Concerns
Cemetery Projects
• Making sure it is in SHAARD• Readings of tombstones• History of individuals• Flags on veterans’ graves• Websites• Cleaning up yard• Signs at the cemetery• Preservation
What not to do in the cemetery?
• Trespass – getting to site
• Probing (without permit)
• Moving of stones• Taking of stones
• Improper cleaning methods
• Vandalize– Shaving cream– Chalk– Peanut butter
