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Unmarked Burial Sites Preservation

Kansas state statutes K.S.A. 75-2741 through 75-2754 comprise the Unmarked Burials Act. These statutes protect unmarked burials in Kansas and the human remains and associated objects that come from them. Unmarked burials are those that do not have headstones, are not in demarcated cemeteries, and are not noted in maps, deeds, or other records. The law makes it illegal to disturb unmarked burials and prohibits the possession or display of human remains and associated objects from unmarked burials. Please refer to the statutes and associated regulations for details.

If you find human remains, please contact the local law enforcement agency.

Desecrated and abandoned cemeteries
Cemeteries that are known and marked, yet abandoned are addressed by several laws. K.S.A. 21-1411 protects cemeteries and graves from destruction and vandalism. Other laws (KSA 80-916, 19-3106, and 17-1366) describe who is responsible for abandoned or desecrated cemeteries. Typically they are the responsibility of the township or county government.

For more information, please contact the State Archeologist at 785-272-8681, ext. 269. Also, a brochure is available in two PDFs (Burial Brochure 1 and 2) on the Professional Archaeologists of Kansas website.