This week we’re talking about grave robbing.  You may look at such a topic and think there really isn’t much to talk about.

“I’m against.  That’s it.  What’s wrong with any goddamn nitwit that would think about grave robbing?”

There really is a case for grave robbing when you stop to think about it.  Archaeology is a career based on grave robbing.

“Aw, Jesus Christ!  Next thing you know, he’ll be talking about sodomizing dead bodies or some other such nonsense.”

The case for grave robbing really seems to hinge on whether someone else is willing to raise a complaint.

One man’s archeology is another woman’s sacrilege. 

How can you really distinguish archeology from grave robbing?  What if the body is only exhumed from graves 2% or less people know exist?  Must the grave robber declare a researchable hypothesis before breaking dirt? Is it a matter of how long the body has been in the ground? 

“If it’s older than 1,000 years, it’s research.  If it’s fresher than that you’re just some kind of sick freak.”

Egypt, Greece, parts of China: these all pose ideal locales for digging up dead bodies.  Take a pick axe and shovel to your local cemetery, no matter how loud you’ve stated your hypothesis, you’re probably going to find yourself confronted by local authorities.    

If there is a safe bet when it comes to robbing a grave, you want to wait until the entire civilization is decimated.  In fact, in this scenario, you might even be able to get some local authorities to issue you a permit.  After that, 9 times out of 10, you can dig up all the dead bodies you want. 

When you dig up a grave under any other conditions, you take your life into your own hands.