As a former field archaeologist, I honestly have to say that
activities like letterboxing and geocaching really shouldn't be done
on archaeological sites, especially if they're actively being
excavated. It's extremely disruptive to data collection, especially
when the information that's being collected is fragile or
environmetal/landscape-based.

I say this knowing full well that letterboxes (in particular) aren't
supposed to be buried and are supposed to be placed responsibly. And
it's been my experience that placers are extremely responsible in
natural environments--but an archaeological environment is very
different.

On the other hand, I find it sad that they'd also outlaw it on
historic sites and cemeteries that are already protected and
maintained, especially given the number of letterboxes that introduce
people to their local history and tie in to the sites where they are
placed.

Circus


On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 19:24:33 -0000, jodyperkins wrote:
>
>
> Has anybody seen this proposed bill in South Carolina?
>
> http://www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/query2003.exe?
> first=DOC&querytext=h%
> 203777&category=Legislation&session=116&conid=1278963&result_pos=0&key
> val=1163777&printornot=N
>
> H 3777 General Bill, By Ceips, Loftis, Breeland, Scott, Whipper,
> Bowers, Hosey, Vaughn, Anthony, Battle, Chalk, Clyburn, Dantzler,
> Hardwick, Harvin, Herbkersman, J. Hines, Howard, Jefferson, Kirsh,
> Lee, Martin, McCraw, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, Perry, M.A.
> Pitts, Rivers, Scarborough, Simrill, Toole and Umphlett
>
> A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING
> SECTION 16-17-605 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "GEOCACHE", "GEOCACHING",
> AND "LETTERBOXING", TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ENGAGE IN
> GEOCACHING OR ETTERBOXING IN CEMETERIES, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES, OR ON
> THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF THE STATE, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.
>
> southdeltan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
>
> ________________________________
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/letterbox-usa/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Geocaching is already prohibited on archaeological sites, by the
geocaching.com placement rules (so are buried caches). Of course, as
some other sites have started their own geocaching databases, their
placement rules could vary by website. Letterboxing, since it doesn't
have a localized organization with a set of rules, probably is more
vulnerable to this kind of legislation.

I think trying to outlaw these games from public cemetaries and
historical sites is a bit short-sighted, though. These are
already-prepared sites that get thousands of visitors already, not
delicate archaeological sites that are still in the process of
discovery. I know that I wouldn't have ever visited our local historic
cemetary and learned a bit more about my city if there wasn't a cache
there.

Unfortunately, few congresspeople do either, so it'll take some real
coordinated efforts to get the bill changed.

--Stephanie

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:38:13 -0500, Circus wrote:
> As a former field archaeologist, I honestly have to say that
> activities like letterboxing and geocaching really shouldn't be done
> on archaeological sites, especially if they're actively being
> excavated.
--
Stephanie Bryant
mortaine@gmail.com
http://www.mortaine.com

Has there been some problems with letterboxing activity in South
Carolina? Usually a bill won't be introduced unless someone has
experienced problems and wants it stopped. All those cosponsors
could represent districts where some organized anti-letterboxing
campaign has been run. Who is behind the lobbying?
The Bird Stamper


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "jodyperkins"
wrote:
>
>
> Has anybody seen this proposed bill in South Carolina?
>
> http://www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/query2003.exe?
> first=DOC&querytext=h%
>
203777&category=Legislation&session=116&conid=1278963&result_pos=0&ke
y
> val=1163777&printornot=N
>
> H 3777 General Bill, By Ceips, Loftis, Breeland, Scott, Whipper,
> Bowers, Hosey, Vaughn, Anthony, Battle, Chalk, Clyburn, Dantzler,
> Hardwick, Harvin, Herbkersman, J. Hines, Howard, Jefferson, Kirsh,
> Lee, Martin, McCraw, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, Perry,
M.A.
> Pitts, Rivers, Scarborough, Simrill, Toole and Umphlett
>
> A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY
ADDING
> SECTION 16-17-605 SO AS TO DEFINE THE
TERMS "GEOCACHE", "GEOCACHING",
> AND "LETTERBOXING", TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ENGAGE IN
> GEOCACHING OR ETTERBOXING IN CEMETERIES, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES, OR
ON
> THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF THE STATE, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.
>
> southdeltan

> A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING
> SECTION 16-17-605 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "GEOCACHE", "GEOCACHING",
> AND "LETTERBOXING", TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ENGAGE IN
> GEOCACHING OR ETTERBOXING IN CEMETERIES, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES, OR ON
> THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF THE STATE, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

The cachers have been chewing on this one for a few days on their
forum. South Carolina has an active geocacher group and they are
trying to find out more info.

Stay tuned.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "jodyperkins"
wrote:
>
> Has anybody seen this proposed bill in South Carolina?

Apparently the author of the bill, Rep Catherine Ceips, has the
impression that geocachers and letterboxers are vandalizing
cemeteries and archaeological sites by digging them up and removing
headstones. This came from one of the co-sponsors of the bill who is
backing it based on information received from Rep. Ceips.

Of course we all know this is hogwash, but misperceptions like these
can severely restrict geocaching and letterboxing.

The South Carolina Geocaching Assn is working on this and they have
contacted several legislators to discuss this and dispell these
misconceptions about our sports. Its probably a good idea to hold off
on any letter writing campaign until we see how their efforts pan out.

Its important that we nip this one in the bud, because the other
states tend have copycat legislatures and if the South Carolina
thinks something is worth legislating against, they are likely to
follow.

You can follow this issue this thread on the geocaching.com website:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=93702&st=150

Wait... isn't there already a law prohibiting vandalism of headstones
and other cemetary items? Why not just enforce the laws they have....?

On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 00:17:14 -0000, Brian wrote:
>
> Apparently the author of the bill, Rep Catherine Ceips, has the
> impression that geocachers and letterboxers are vandalizing
> cemeteries and archaeological sites by digging them up and removing
> headstones. This came from one of the co-sponsors of the bill who is
> backing it based on information received from Rep. Ceips.

--
Stephanie Bryant
mortaine@gmail.com
http://www.mortaine.com

Nah... That'd be too logical. My question is how they would expect to enforce the
penalty, given that people rarely put their real names and addresses in the boxes.

Knit Wit

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Stephanie Bryant wrote:
> Wait... isn't there already a law prohibiting vandalism of headstones
> and other cemetary items? Why not just enforce the laws they have....?
>

The vandalism laws wouldn't apply because neither letterboxers nor
geocachers commit acts of vandalism. The bill exists only because a
state legislator mistakenly believes otherwise. Once a large enough
enough group of legislators learns the truth, the bill should die.

Steve and Heidi's suggestion (teaching legislators about the hobbies)
is great and I think the local cacher group is already working on it.

Mike
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "ncginger2000"
wrote:
>
> Nah... That'd be too logical. My question is how they would expect
to enforce the penalty, given that people rarely put their real names
and addresses in the boxes.
>
> Knit Wit
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Stephanie Bryant
wrote:
> > Wait... isn't there already a law prohibiting vandalism of
headstones and other cemetary items? Why not just enforce the laws
they have....?
> >