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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Taking Your Obsession Too Far

posted by on April 9 at 9:37 AM

There are Civil War nuts, and there are Civil War nuts:

Working in secret, federal archaeologists have dug up the remains of dozens of soldiers and children near a Civil War-era fort after an informant tipped them off about widespread grave-looting.

The exhumations, conducted from August to October, removed 67 skeletons from the parched desert soil around Fort Craig - 39 men, two women and 26 infants and children, according to two federal archaeologists who helped with the dig.

They also found scores of empty graves and determined 20 had been looted.

What tipped off the Feds?

The investigation began with a tip about an amateur historian who had displayed the mummified remains of a black soldier, draped in a Civil War-era uniform, in his house.

RSS icon Comments

1

confederetes LITERALY in the attic

Posted by linus | April 9, 2008 9:50 AM
2

I am not suprised about the looting. Prices for Civil War artifacts are soaring, due in part to the popularity of re-enacting. Real, as opposed to replicated buttons, buckles, swords and etc. are a big status symbol with re-enactors. Collectors have had a limited supply since families tend to keep such items as heirlooms and since personal effects and weapons were ususally buried with casualties grave robbers find eager buyers.

Posted by inkweary | April 9, 2008 12:01 PM

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