Battlefield detectorist arrest Peterson Battlefield

[Howard Snell]

I saw this article from a year ago as I was digging around.. Not that condone what this guy did but it's apparent that he didn't sell any of his finds. In a additional note some time far back my parents went to Gettysburg without me. When they got back my father gave me a bullet that he bought I assumed from the gift shop. I wonder how that bullet made it into the store?

Please see link

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/23/10827391-civil-war-relic-thief-engaged-in-heartbreaking-destruction?lite

 

[skookum]

Quote:
used a metal detector and sometimes his dog to look for Civil War-era artifacts

Question:
Where can I get a dog like that ??

hh
skookum

 

[KinTN]

If they can train them for iron/steel/lead, you can put me down for one that finds gold!

 

[Howard Snell]

They actually have dogs that sniff out cancer cells

 

[KinTN]

And termites.
And dogs that sense an incipient epileptic seizures.
And my girl can tell time and find her food bowl AND vocalize at the same time!

KinTN loves dogs.

 

[deliveryboy]

The report says he kept notes of his finds and where, sounds like he did all the work for them, so why they complaining ? lol I don't know I'm kind of torn on how Government can just claim whatever they want when they want, this is our country and we pay them to work for us.

 

[88junior]

What the heck they would rather for the relics to lay under ground and deteriorate than have them dug up and put out for view in a museum that's what drives me crazy!! I don't know about you guys but I'd go and dig those relics up at no charge and give them to the right authorities just to know I saved a part of history and be able to share it with future generations.

 

[Songdog]

What the heck they would rather for the relics to lay under ground and deteriorate than have them dug up and put out for view in a museum that's what drives me crazy!! I don't know about you guys but I'd go and dig those relics up at no charge and give them to the right authorities just to know I saved a part of history and be able to share it with future generations.

EXACTLY what I was going to say!
If the "archies" are so interested in the historical information then why are they not out there looking for it?
Instead, they would rather leave it buried and unseen?!
When I visit these battlefield sights all I see is GROUND! So what if the relics were removed. What difference, or impact, does it have on my visit?
NONE!
I get more excited visiting an antique shop that has relics on display!
Nobody thought or says anything about the "archies" digging up and destroying the original appearance of mound sites, pyramids, tombs, etc.
In the name of science?
I say BS!
It is so THEY can have their name associated with the find.
If a farmer picks up an arrowhead, or civil war relic, or Roman coin while plowing his fields, is he a felon and thief?
No wonder these days when someone FINDS something that they don't report it.
They would just have it taken away from them.
The "archies" have enough playgrounds to dig in.
And they would learn so much more by working with the detectorists instead of against.

 

[Carolina Phil]

...my parents went to Gettysburg without me. When they got back my father gave me a bullet that he bought I assumed from the gift shop. I wonder how that bullet made it into the store?

It was probably a modern-made bullet advertised as a replica of the type of bullet used in the war. (The local revolutionary war battlefield gift shop sells these.)

It could have been an authentic civil war era bullet. They (3-ringer, mini-ball, etc.) can be found anywhere (not just battlefields) because that was the type of bullet used at that time.

 

[JimGilmore]

Actually the probelm is one of greed.
The archies are saying only we have the right to dig them. SO they have pushed laws to represent their view.
And the archies have gotten the laws to slowely exteend to more and more. Their goal will be that you cannot even dig on your own land if they have their way.

 

[Steve O]

Many of us had family that fought in the civil war. Some were killed, wounded or made it through....That war affected us all, but the govt says we have no right to search for the artifacts.

As Songdog stated, all you see is GROUND when visiting these historical fields. Wouldn't it be better to see all the artifacts on display.

My guess is your typical visitor doesn't look at the ground and think to themselves ' all the bullets, buttons, buckles etc are still in the earth'....they will look at a display and ponder that these items came out of the ground from this horrific battle.

Even if many of the artifacts were not put on display and kept for private collections, history is still learned from them, they get passed on from generation to generation. With the internet, the whole world could see them providing the owner posts their collections. They would be saved and preserved.

Looking at it from both sides, there are probably good reasons why they keep the grounds hallowed,...and they really are, but so are the artifacts.

 

[jd88047]

At what point do we dig the battlefields and the graves? You may have noticed I did not take sides here. The answer is simple, context. It is my belief that city parks, public beaches, and historical sites that must be protected should be concreted over and all the public servants employed in the maintenance of these protected areas fired. There is far too many keep of the grass signs being made lately.

 

[Johnnyanglo]

Doesn't a Golden Retriever retrieve gold?

 

[Crispy Critter]

Doesn't a Golden Retriever retrieve gold?

Yes....it does.

 

[sweepdog]

he had a lot of "goodies". it sounds like he "pounded" that park well