Dec 14, 2009
By Heather Sahr
DURANT, OK --Terry Cole and Dr. Ian Thompson completed an archeological
law enforcement class recently making them the only tribal crime scene
investigators in Oklahoma.
As tribal CSI, the pair can evaluate remains and artifacts that are
invaluable to members of the Choctaw Nation and other tribes.
"The grave robbing that's going on, are our ancestors, that's our
people that they're robbing,” Cole said. “The archeological digs
that go on and dig in these pots, out of the ground, we would like
to put a stop to that and get these people off the streets from doing
this."
Thompson explained a little bit about what the class taught them.
”They talked about some of the damage it does to native communities
which of course we're aware of. And then they took us out on a mock
crime scene, an archaeological crime scene. And we went out with law
enforcement. And they showed us what we need to do, as an archaeologist
or a historic preservation officer to provide the information that
law enforcement need in order to have a successful prosecution on
those cases," Thompson said.
With what they learned, the pair is able to assist in crime scene
investigations that can put people who dig up grave sites and steal
artifacts behind bars.
"We found here recently a lot of these folks are also dealing in
illegal drugs and so they know that they can get a fast buck,” Cole
said.
“By digging in graves and getting these artifacts, the grave goods,
and selling them on the black market or like I said at the flea markets
and things."
The two investigators now have the certifications to be expert witnesses
in court cases where the crime of grave robbing, could lead to a federal
offense.
"The penalties are pretty stiff in terms of years in jail, and also
the fines. And then from another perspective it's just something that's
wrong," Thompson said.
The Choctaw Nation is the first tribe in Oklahoma to receive a training
team like this one. They plan to hold an archaeological training
session in February or March to teach federal and state agencies a
little bit more about what they've learned.