I was wondering what you think about excavating graves.
   Joelle, Age 13, Madison, Wisconsin

Dr. dig responds:
The excavation of graves is an extremely sensitive matter and must be taken very seriously. Different cultures believe different things about death and the afterlife. The responsibility of an archaeologist when making a decision about whether or not to excavate a grave is to take into careful consideration the cultural heritage to which a human burial belongs. An archaeologist must also take into account the future of a grave or cemetery. Leaving them where they are does not necessarily guarantee their preservation. Sometimes graves and cemeteries are threatened by building development, natural disasters, environmental changes, and vandalism. It's an archaeologist's duty to study and preserve the remains at those sites for future generations.