I hope these pics are legit archaeology pictures vs grave robbing.
If they are grave robbers, I see they don’t mind picking from each side. Sad thing is that it must be tempting; especially when they can find high grade items like the SS ring etc and they can probably turn these items around by selling to western collectors for huge mark ups.
The pics are also a sad reminder of where most of our collectables came from, especially if you own an RC. Even if that K98 was surrendered to the Soviets by a living solider, he probably didn’t make it home.
Not to stir a political debate, but while the vast majority were simple soldiers, they were also invaders. Some were even doing very bad things to those Russian peasants and civilians. I don't think grave desecration of any kind is OK, but if those peasants and their progeny are less then reverent about German war dead I can understand why. Back in the day those Russian farmers plowing battlefields were about as concerned with German remains and gear as cow or dog bones.
Not much different than uncovering tut's tomb. Except that was suppose to be for science.
it comes down to money. If people stopped buying that stuff, there would be no reason to did it up. I do think I'd enjoy fishing with a magnet and pulling up a g43 or other trinkets.. Saw that on the g/k forum..
Looks to me like this is straight up grave robbing. I dont think a Archaeologist would care about posing a SS ring for the picture. These remains are simply laid out on the grass, with no tarp under them...or any indication of care. The photographer seems more concerned about taking pics of the war booty than documenting the grave site. From the looks of it, it looks like it all came from a peat bog. I havent heard of too many Achaeologists or organizations that would seek out war graves in peat bogs unless it was a known grave site. Somebody had to use a metal detector to find where these men layed. The real reason for finding these guys we will never truely know, just assume.
A wallet, Coin, Ring, cleaning kit spoon, NCO shoulder boards with Cyphers. Obviously he was a SS NCO issued a K98.
Remarkable the conidition everything is in, almost too creepy...too fresh. Erie to see all the belongings with it.
Interesting and humbling pictures. I hope they ALL have had a proper burial.
Tons of stuff has been coming from Russian soil since the iron curtain fell down, the soil there, specially in the swamps is a good preserver.
Btw they don't only find 3R related items but also Viking stuff for example, just check out metal detector websites.
Of course this is all the work of amateurs.
A lot of these amateur sell the objects they find to fund their hobby.
This amateur digs are a double edged sword.
If those amateurs wouldn't dig those things up, they would just rot away; but if these amateurs dig them up the objects often lose their historical intrest and indeed what do they do with the humain remains.
Then the question of human remains on display.
How much time should a body spend under the ground before it can go in a display?
...
An example.
War tourism started in the 19th century after the battle of Waterloo.
For many years tourist have been watching the skeleton of a (French) soldier that was KIA during the battle of Waterloo, in the small museum that is made in Napoleon's last HQ. http://www.helium.com/items/1902161-...aterloobelgium
In France you can visit the battle of Verdun memorial and their the human remains can be seen stacked up.
Sorry to say but I don't know anybody that feels offended by this, but when it comes to WW2 period or Waffen SS humain remains.....
I also want to mention that this doesn't only happen in Russia but on every battlefield or crashside in Europe.
Cheers,
Peter
PS: If you are against this you can only hope that these metal detectorers find an unexploded shell or mine and blow themselfs up, because that is the risk you take when you go metal detecting on those battlefields.
I cant blame them.. I live in ole n.e. usa as kids we use to dig bottles. All the houses use to have old dumping grounds and we would dig bottles for a hobby. Old cork stopper types. I still have some. Over there.. you whole back yard or all of parts of europe was a battle field. Finding stuff in the back yard would be kinda fun.. There are pleanty of guys over here who use metal detectors on civil war battlefields and dig for war booty... Same type of thing I guess..
Archaeology vs Grave Robbing
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