According to the Associated Press, federal archaeologists exhumed 67 bodies of the Civil War era in New Mexico after someone informed them that grave looting was going on.
67 bodies secretly exhumed from NM grave
By MELANIE DABOVICH, Associated Press writer 35 minutes agoALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Working in secret, federal archaeologists have dug up the remains of dozens of soldiers and children near a Civil War-era fort after an informant tipped them off about widespread grave-looting.
The exhumations, conducted from August to October, removed 67 skeletons from the parched desert soil around Fort Craig — 39 men, two women and 26 infants and children, according to two federal archaeologists who helped with the dig.
They also found scores of empty graves and determined 20 had been looted.
The government kept its exhumation of the unmarked cemetery near the historic New Mexico fort out of the public's eye for months to prevent more thefts.
The investigation began with a tip about an amateur historian who had displayed the mummified remains of a black soldier, draped in a Civil War-era uniform, in his house.
Investigators say the historian, Dee Brecheisen, may have been a prolific looter who spotted historical sites from his plane. Brecheisen died in 2004 and although it was not clear whether the looting continued after his death, authorities exhumed the unprotected site to prevent future thefts.
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sad
pretty sad when people resort to looting graves
agreed
Deb, I have to agree with you but then again as studied history and archeaology it appears the only difference with it being okay...... is time. We continue to search for grave sites of the ancient world and disturb them for the sake of knowledge. We would still plunger the celtic or indian burial mound if we thought there were treasure in it. We don't even give it a second thought when we find a site of the red paint burials and even less if the site is prehistoric.
Not saying it's wrong or right. Just an observation of Human nature when it comes to grave desacration. By the way...How many of us have an Egyptian Sarcophagus with mummy in our living rooms?
Will