As metal detecting competition for older finds grows, it becomes more difficult to find quality places to go metal detecting. Cemeteries, especially old ones near ghost towns and other remote areas may seem appealing. In fact, this metal detecting question does arise from time to time and has recently resurfaced. So, is it ok to go metal detecting in cemeteries? After all, they are places where people congregate and lose money or leave relics for loved ones
Metal detecting cemeteries is not appropriate for two reasons. First, in many if not most places, metal detecting in cemeteries is illegal. It doesn’t make much sense to risk an entanglement with the law over a few coins or relics. Additionally, historical cemeteries may be protected by additional historical places laws. Second, I personally do not believe it is appropriate to be messing around or near someone’s grave site.
At modern cemeteries, the deceased are buried deep enough that a detectorist wouldn’t likely impact the actual burial site. At older sites, the graves may be much shallower for a number of reasons. I think that it would be very disrespectful to be digging at such a site. Grave robbing is not being a responsible detectorist and reflects poorly on the hobby. So, in a nutshell, metal detecting cemeteries is NOT ok.