diff --git a/mods/bones/init.lua b/mods/bones/init.lua
index 03ed61d6..f35d5192 100644
--- a/mods/bones/init.lua
+++ b/mods/bones/init.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ bones.bones_formspec =
 	"list[current_player;main;0,6.08;8,3;8]"..
 	default.get_hotbar_bg(0,4.85)
 
+local share_bones_time = tonumber(minetest.setting_get("share_bones_time") or 1200)
+local share_bones_time_early = tonumber(minetest.setting_get("share_bones_time_early") or (share_bones_time/4))
+
 minetest.register_node("bones:bones", {
 	description = "Bones",
 	tiles = {
@@ -96,23 +99,47 @@ minetest.register_node("bones:bones", {
 	
 	on_timer = function(pos, elapsed)
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-		local time = meta:get_int("time")+elapsed
-		local publish = 1200
-		if tonumber(minetest.setting_get("share_bones_time")) then
-			publish = tonumber(minetest.setting_get("share_bones_time"))
-		end
-		if publish == 0 then
-			return
-		end
-		if time >= publish then
+		local time = meta:get_int("time") + elapsed
+		if time >= share_bones_time then
 			meta:set_string("infotext", meta:get_string("owner").."'s old bones")
 			meta:set_string("owner", "")
 		else
+			meta:set_int("time", time)
 			return true
 		end
 	end,
 })
 
+local function may_replace(pos, player)
+	local node_name = minetest.get_node(pos).name
+	local node_definition = minetest.registered_nodes[node_name]
+
+	-- if the node is unknown, we let the protection mod decide
+	-- this is consistent with when a player could dig or not dig it
+	-- unknown decoration would often be removed
+	-- while unknown building materials in use would usually be left
+	if not node_definition then
+		-- only replace nodes that are not protected
+		return not minetest.is_protected(pos, player:get_player_name())
+	end
+
+	-- allow replacing air and liquids
+	if node_name == "air" or node_definition.liquidtype ~= "none" then
+		return true
+	end
+
+	-- don't replace filled chests and other nodes that don't allow it
+	local can_dig_func = node_definition.can_dig
+	if can_dig_func and not can_dig_func(pos, player) then
+		return false
+	end
+
+	-- default to each nodes buildable_to; if a placed block would replace it, why shouldn't bones?
+	-- flowers being squished by bones are more realistical than a squished stone, too
+	-- exception are of course any protected buildable_to
+	return node_definition.buildable_to and not minetest.is_protected(pos, player:get_player_name())
+end
+
 minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
 	if minetest.setting_getbool("creative_mode") then
 		return
@@ -131,26 +158,29 @@ minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
 	local param2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(player:get_look_dir())
 	local player_name = player:get_player_name()
 	local player_inv = player:get_inventory()
-	
-	local nn = minetest.get_node(pos).name
-	if minetest.registered_nodes[nn].can_dig and
-		not minetest.registered_nodes[nn].can_dig(pos, player) then
 
-		-- drop items instead of delete
-		for i=1,player_inv:get_size("main") do
-			minetest.add_item(pos, player_inv:get_stack("main", i))
+	if (not may_replace(pos, player)) then
+		if (may_replace({x=pos.x, y=pos.y+1, z=pos.z}, player)) then
+			-- drop one node above if there's space
+			-- this should solve most cases of protection related deaths in which players dig straight down
+			-- yet keeps the bones reachable
+			pos.y = pos.y+1
+		else
+			-- drop items instead of delete
+			for i=1,player_inv:get_size("main") do
+				minetest.add_item(pos, player_inv:get_stack("main", i))
+			end
+			for i=1,player_inv:get_size("craft") do
+				minetest.add_item(pos, player_inv:get_stack("craft", i))
+			end
+			-- empty lists main and craft
+			player_inv:set_list("main", {})
+			player_inv:set_list("craft", {})
+			return
 		end
-		for i=1,player_inv:get_size("craft") do
-			minetest.add_item(pos, player_inv:get_stack("craft", i))
-		end
-		-- empty lists main and craft
-		player_inv:set_list("main", {})
-		player_inv:set_list("craft", {})
-		return
 	end
 	
-	minetest.dig_node(pos)
-	minetest.add_node(pos, {name="bones:bones", param2=param2})
+	minetest.set_node(pos, {name="bones:bones", param2=param2})
 	
 	local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
 	local inv = meta:get_inventory()
@@ -171,10 +201,19 @@ minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
 	player_inv:set_list("craft", {})
 	
 	meta:set_string("formspec", bones.bones_formspec)
-	meta:set_string("infotext", player_name.."'s fresh bones")
 	meta:set_string("owner", player_name)
-	meta:set_int("time", 0)
 	
-	local timer  = minetest.get_node_timer(pos)
-	timer:start(10)
+	if share_bones_time ~= 0 then
+		meta:set_string("infotext", player_name.."'s fresh bones")
+
+		if share_bones_time_early == 0 or not minetest.is_protected(pos, player_name) then
+			meta:set_int("time", 0)
+		else
+			meta:set_int("time", (share_bones_time - share_bones_time_early))
+		end
+
+		minetest.get_node_timer(pos):start(10)
+	else
+		meta:set_string("infotext", player_name.."'s bones")
+	end
 end)