i would suggest getting in touch with the state historic preservation officcer and see how this parcel needs to be handled with regards to human remains. There are different steps to go through in this circumstance even if the land is privately owned. It may be a long shot, and I am sure there are many loopholes. I would start to collect oral histories relating to these ashe scatterings, and get that in hand befire any determination is made. they may come in handy. there may be photos, video etc. You may also encoubter that many particioants in this tradition were in violation of laws, so you need to be careful about the exposure that may put on those who had been involved. At the very east your oral history collection could serve as an enduring part of the rememberances tere.
Tonia Deetz Rock
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Gibb <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, Nov 6, 2009 5:17 pm
Subject: Re: query about ashes and soil
Sweet soil, Carol, with excellent bone preservation. There are some ornamentals
hat would probably do well in those soils. And, of course, there is always the
ossibility of heavy metals like gold and silver from fancy dental work and
ewelry. If the redevelopers are smart, they will test the soil
nyway...asbestos, benzene, lead and other toxins from the building's
onstruction and use potentially pose greater threats than ash and calcined
one.
James G. Gibb
ibb Archaeological Consulting
554 Carrollton Road
nnapolis, MD 21403 USA
43.482.9593
----- Original Message -----
rom: "Carol McDavid" <[log in to unmask]>
o: [log in to unmask]
ent: Friday, November 6, 2009 4:45:09 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
ubject: query about ashes and soil
Hello all,
I have a question which should probably go to a soils expert, but I'm hoping
his list can provide me with some guidance or referrals.
I live and work in an urban Houston neighborhood known as "Montrose", which for
ecades has been the hub of gay/lesbian life in Houston. One of the local
andmarks is a place called "Mary's", which, until it closed recently, was the
ldest operating gay bar in Texas. An ad hoc heritage group has been formed,
pearheaded by the GLBT Community Center, to document what's left of the place
efore a local restaurant chain takes over. They will be doing photos, gathering
rtifacts, and so on. I was contacted by someone who's heading up this effort
ith a question.
The question being...the back patio of this bar has, over the years, been a
opular place for memorial services for members of the gay community. Over the
ears a great many human ashes have been deposited in the gardens surrounding
his patio, as part of community memorial services. What effect would
otentially large amounts of human ashes have on the future use of the site?
There is probably no documentation about how many times this has occurred, but
he bar has been around for probably over 40 years and has been a very important
lace to the members of the gay and lesbian community. So I'm guessing this has
appened lots of times. And they need some ideas now -- as the leader of this
eritage group has said, in "clear-it-out-and-tear-it-down Houston, we may not
ave a great deal of time". So I'd like to help them answer this question if I
an.
Oh, and I doubt there would ever be any formal mitigation effort. The land is
rivately owned and the restaurant is a local chain with lots of private money.
nd of course this "mausoleum" was never dedicated in any sort of formal way.
Thanks,
arol
*****************************************
arol McDavid, Ph.D.
xecutive Director, Community Archaeology Research Institute, Inc. (CARI)
irector, Yates Community Archaeology Project
djunct Assistant Professor, University of Houston
djunct Assistant Professor, Rice University
638 Branard
ouston, TX 77006
ww.publicarchaeology.org
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