What I found after the Volksbund went by

[münster]

Cool stuff munster, did you find it yourself? I search with MD myself too, just across the border in Holland at our airfield that was once german. I havent found a helmet or such yet but im always looking for it.

Hallo Enschede...I used to live near you. Yes,,I found all in Iserlohn,,,anytime your up for a trip in the summer..LETS GO!!!!

[Over_Heer]

I used to dig for relics from the American Civil war when I lived in Georgia, and the problems are very similar. You never know if you are digging in a grave, or if the items were simply dropped in battle, and to make things harder the bones are usually completely gone and the only way to tell is by the way the relics are laying on the ground. The few times we did find bones we gave them and the relics that were with them to the Civil War trust. They use the relics to try to identify the soldier or at least the regiment he was with.
As far as morality goes, I think its fine to dig in a place that used to be a grave, if relics were left behind, but digging a place that still is a grave just for the relics is wrong, unless the motive is to re-patriate the remains that are found.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I live on a Roman Graveyard, On the road in front of the house is a replica of a large tombstone that was found in the driveway, a bronze fountain mask is in one of the biggest roman museum collections was found when the garage was built.

My wifes grandmother used to happily call the museum everytime she found something in the garden and have it taken off for a smile and a pat on the back.

Personally, I think the museum can kiss my butt. I put everything we find in a glass case in the hall. We have Roman lamps, a spearhead, pots etc.

Peoople who see it enjoy it and it is not rotting away in some celler at one of the museums.

Most of the builders here whisk the stuff they find away and keep or sell it. alternatley they just cover it up again. here is a danger that the state hears about it and turns their building site into an archeological dig... no work can be done for months and all financial losses are carried by the builder.

Münster.. be sure not to be caught. Like France, germany has stupid laws that would rather let things rust away than be found by grubby collectors.

[Robin Lumsden]

The slight drawback with digging up items like this is that, every so often, they go.................





BANG !

[Simon O.]

A very good point Robin. Small arms ammunition isn't much to worry about but any kind of explosive ordnance is probably best left alone, ie. handgrenades, artillery\flak ammunition, rifle grenades not to mention mines.

Most of the builders here whisk the stuff they find away and keep or sell it. alternatley they just cover it up again. here is a danger that the state hears about it and turns their building site into an archeological dig... no work can be done for months and all financial losses are carried by the builder

i've heard these stories before from builders in different countries. Absolute criminal behaviour that i feel should warrant a good couple of years in prison.
BTW, i'd go nuts if i ever had a property with Roman remains. Who cares about a garden or driveways when you could spend years excavating! I'd be in heaven.

[Ostmark]

Before you start digging make sure that you are well educatet in ammunition, and how it looks like.
I have to say that also small ammo for rifles eg 8mm for 98K is also dangerous.
I am sure Simon you know about B-Patronen, and the one with Phospor. The problem on small ammo is that the colours from the bullets is rotten away, and
so its not possible to identify them.
Ammunition which was already fired is more then dangerous because you do not know whats the state of the firing pin inside. Very dangerous are rifle nades because you can not see if the where fired.

Regards
Herbert

[Theodor]

Left alone??? No way At last with a friend we know where the Germans have burried lots of equipment, including crates of ammo... Only waiting for a little drier weather to have a look

[münster]

Found a faust once,,,to warn anyone who also does,,,an empty tube is just as dangerous,,,JUST LEAVE THEM

[Lisa Thompson]

Well, I hope we don't find you posting in a few months after a stint in the hospital where you can only type with stumps.
Just don't let greed get in the way of common sense. Sorry, the parent in me speaks..

Left alone??? No way At last with a friend we know where the Germans have burried lots of equipment, including crates of ammo... Only waiting for a little drier weather to have a look

[Jean-Loup]

All the accidesnts I have heard of occured when guys really pushed the limits, trying, manipulating grenades and shells with pliers.

I spoke to a guy that was helping a friend build a house in southern France. He said they found two squeletons with helmets. The friend said "please dont tell the police, otherwise they will call the archeologists", so the bones ended up under some cement, under the house... Apparently they were bodies of African soldiers from WW1, according to the guy, altough I dont quite get how they would have gotten there.

JL

[Theodor]

ghosts

[Over_Heer]

I beleive that property ownership should give owner rights to anything found in the ground, but I really think that the remains of the dead should be treated with the proper respect.

[Ardennes]

I think it is a matter of opinions, it sounds like everyone here has respect for the fallen - which is good to hear. I also believe it is tough for those of us in the "new continents" to really grasp the situation. What I mean is that at least in the US, people protest the demolition of a 75 year old building and anything over 100 years old is sacred...whereas in Europe, they have bathrooms older than our country. Wars have been fought on the same battlefields for thousands of years whereas over here the battles have been fewer and further between.

What I'm saying is the respect is there, but the view is very different.

[J.von Canon]

I recall a U-Boat sunk off the North Carolina coast;some outlaw divers had offered bones and clothing remnants for sale to the public in a dive shop!
This was in the 70's.
The U.S. Navy eventually sealed entry into the wreck.
I saw photos of (dumb)divers hovering over 88 intact shells carrying "bang sticks."

[Over_Heer]

...whereas in Europe, they have bathrooms older than our country.

There's a scary thought...