Native american burial mound?

Question

OK so I just found out this public place is built on top of a burial mound... there are still bones in it and the bones they already dug up were reburied in another location in a mass gave type deal.... is this right? it has been kind of bothering me since I found out about it.... but does this happen alot at old burial sites? shouldn't they have moved all the bones/artifacts first? or is the fact they left it alone ( and built on top of it) better? OR should they have not been allowed to build on the site at all? thoughts? opinions?

thanks!

Answer 1

an indian burial site is just as important as any other burial site. i dont think they should have built over it in the first place, but, then again, a long time ago, when people didnt have enough room for their dead loved ones, they would exhume (sp) other bodies to make room for new ones. some people wont even step foot on an indian burial ground b/c of the spiritual connection. native americans were very spiritual individuals. most of the time, when they burried their loved ones, they just found a nice shaddy place under a tree and bury them there. others, burried them on "sacred ground" according to them. so, whoever built over the burial ground, maybe didnt know about it until the building started. maybe they tried to move all the bones, but couldnt. reguardless, i think nothing should be built over any burial ground. its disrespectful.

Answer 2

Most of the "mounds" are not burial sites.  They are just mysterious mounds of earth.  /

Answer 3

Depending on when the building was built has a lot to do with whether the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act comes into force.  From what you say the building is already completed.  Being Native American myself, I have a strong opinion on the subject.  Would you want someone digging up your ancestors?  I would think not.  Well what makes our ancestors any less important than anyone elses??  If I had my way anyone who purposefully dug up a burial site, should be punished to the fullest extent of the law PERIOD!!  But sometimes accidents happen and a burial site is found when no one knew it was there, that is where the law comes in and building must be stopped for 30 days to allow archaeologists time to authenticate the site and more time may be needed to remove the "artifacts" and bones.

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is the primary federal legislation pertaining to graves and human remains in archaeological contexts. NAGPRA establishes definitions of burial sites, cultural affiliation, cultural items, associated and unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, cultural patrimony, indian tribes, museums, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians, right of possession and tribal land. NAGPRA gives guides and priorities concerning the ownership or control of Native American cultural items which are excavated or discovered on Federal or tribal lands after the date of enactment of the act. Guides are given concerning the intentional excavation and removal of Native American human remains and objects on Federal or tribal land, as well as for the inadvertent discovery of Native American remains and objects on Federal or trial lands. Process is established in assisting federal agencies and museums in the determination of the appropriate Native American group responsible for disposition of various human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and materials of cultural patrimony. NAGPRA required that all museums make an inventory of such items, stipulating that geographical and cultural affiliation be identified if possible, and that upon request from a tribe a museum or federal agency would provide documentation and repatriate materials if "appropriate."

Native American human remains, graves and ritual objects located on federal and tribal land are encouraged to be protected in situ. In cases where in place preservation is not possible, or if archaeological excavation is necessary for planning or research, or if the remains are inadvertently discovered, then consultation is necessary prior to excavation under an Archaeological Resources Protection Act permit. If remains covered by the law are discovered, the project will be stopped for 30 days while the review and consultation process proceeds.  

Answer 4

I don't know where you are but there is a Federal Law protecting the burial sites of Native Americans. It is not only illegal to build on them (they need to be relocated) but immoral (specifically it is desceration of a grave), Unfortunately many unscrupulouse people ignore the law.

I believe it is called Native American Grave Protection Act.

In about 6 or 7 places in the Bible, people are warned "Thou shalt not disturb the ancient monument" as an "abomination" to God.

Tribal people have specific ways of handling the remains of thier ancestors and all most all of them, do not involve walking on the grave, letting dogs defecate on the grave, or allowing menstrual women near the grave. Therefore building on top of it, is asking for trouble. Unfortunately there are and were Americans who are ignorant and racists, who don't think the graves of others need to be treated with the same measure of respect that thier own grandmother's grave would be treated. I would report it to the Federal agency that enforces this and look up which tribes are or were in the area. Then tell the Elders what you have learned. There is a good chance they will know something about it. Re-interring the remaining bodies may or may not be possible but there may be something they can do about it. For yourself, avoid the building if you can, and pray for the souls there that they are resting peacefully in a good way.

Answer 5

It could be either way.

If it is a modern building (20th century or later) they most likely carried out an archeological excavation and removed the bones and artifacts.

If it is an older building, maybe they did, maybe they didn't, or maybe they only excavated the portion where the foundation/ basement was to be put.

Many American cities are built on sites where there used to be Native American villiages, so it was not uncommon, as cities grew, to build on top of burial mounds/ grounds, esp. during the 19th century. Native Americans were considered "savages" so there little respect for preserving or honoring their past. Fortunately, this is much less likely to happen today.