Claims

[ns_kumiho]

In the past few years some Neo-Pagans have laid claim to archaeological remains and have been demanding the reburial of ancient human remains (long scholarly article from Antiquity on this matter). Other groups have laid claims ancient sites like the ruins of temples and monuments like Stonehenge to demand the right of access and the use of the

Comments

[heartofmoon]

I think it's a complex issue. But I don't really think they have the right to claim them. Access to holy sites, maybe. Reburial of bodies not so much.

On the one hand, I see their point of it being their faith. On the other hand, we don't practice the faiths of the people who built those sites and or the people who have been dug up by archeology. We practice what we can, but not everything survives, and we can't know the intentions of the ancients in that regard, and we certainly can't say we practice the same religion as them. But, since we're trying to take inspiration and be as accurate as possible (at least in the case of reconstructionists), access to holy sites seems reasonable.

But as for burying bodies--we wouldn't know half of what we do about these faiths if it weren't for archeology. Rather than demanding the reburial of these bodies, perhaps we should be grateful that they have survived and allow us to learn about the faiths they led. They serve a greater purpose out of the ground than in it.

[mellifluous_ink]

Succinctly? I think that anyone who would stand in the way of science and learning should be smacked upside the head, metaphorically. Especially if that person is using religion of any kind as an excuse to take away scientific findings.

[polarbear1986]

Access to religious sites? Sure. Unless there becomes an issue with modern users destroying it in some way.
As for re-burial, no. I actually like the idea of my body being dug up in a few hundred years and having people of that time learn what they can about my religious practices as well as my body modification practices. I intend to be buried with all body modifications intact and like the idea of preserved photographs being included as well.