NO GRAVE LIKE HOME: PROTECTING THE DECEASED AND THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACES FROM DESTRUCTION WITHOUT GOING SIX FEET UNDER

摘要

Eternal resting places are under threat and the dead are finding that eternity is not forever afterall. History is more than a word; it is the foundation of our buildings, art, tools, and household items. Even the graves of our dead are part of our history. In particular, the resting places of the dead have a dual existence. While gravesites serve as hallowed places of permanent rest, more importantly, these sites often reveal how our ancestors lived and offer insights into our current way of life. America's "cultural resources" are the physical remains of people and their way of life, and are worth preserving.1 Cultural and historical resources cannot be replaced if they are destroyed by land development, erosion, or relic hunters. Our heritage asAmericans, and human beings, belongs to everyone. Without protection, the loss of these archaeological or historic sites and artifacts will result in the loss of irreplaceable information of the past. As Judge Brannon once stated, "If relatives of bloodmay not defend the graves of their departed, who may? Judge Brannon's question merits exploration.