Resolved Human skull found near Discovery Bay during excavation - Native American remains

[imstilla.grandma]

PORT TOWNSEND — A human skull has been unearthed by an excavation company, and a state expert is expected to travel to Jefferson County this week to examine additional remains, according to the Jefferson County undersheriff.

Undersheriff Andy Pernsteiner said Friday that a homeowner in the 3200 block of state Highway 20 near Discovery Bay hired the excavation company, which was digging on the property Wednesday when the crew found the skull.

The homeowner called the sheriff’s office, and a sergeant investigated, Pernsteiner said.

“They determined it was quite old, and they were probably Native American bones,” he said. “You could kind of tell by the teeth by the way they were ground down and didn’t have any dental work.”
https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/human-skull-found-near-discovery-bay-during-excavation/

 

[PayrollNerd]

“The bones have been classified as non-forensic human remains, he said.”

Very interesting. I am sure it will take a long time to analyze them. They’ll likely need DNA if it can be extracted.

 

[iulia]

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/...lOJZO9uKdLBfO1Da-fCzkpOwrsj296puwWu3BYC3ZF42c

DISCOVERY BAY — Bones that included a human skull unearthed last month during an excavation have been determined to be Native American, a state historic preservation officer said.

Allyson Brooks, the director of the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, confirmed the findings late Tuesday and said her agency is working with tribes on next steps.
[...]
The state still has the remains and is conducting an analysis, said David Brownell, the historic preservation officer for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe late Wednesday.

Brownell said Wednesday the remains include at least two individuals, both Native American and “definitely” from one of the S’Klallam tribes.

 

[PayrollNerd]

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/...lOJZO9uKdLBfO1Da-fCzkpOwrsj296puwWu3BYC3ZF42c

If this property was an old village site, was this an old burial site that was disturbed accidentally? They would need to check for additional graves, I would think. Then the tribe can rebury the remains properly.

Brownell said the state has a mandated process after it determines remains are Native American to contact tribes to see if they have interest. The state typically contacts all of the Salish Sea tribes, he said.

Brownell confirmed the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe has expressed interest in the remains.

“It was at one of our old village sites that was on Discovery Bay,” he said.