Prehistoric remains discovered at Sacramento River excavation site
Human remains of an American Indian man dating back thousands of years were discovered early Monday afternoon at an excavation site on the Sacramento River north of Hamilton City.
Lt. Rich Warren of Glenn County Sheriff's Office said in a phone interview late Monday that the bones were discovered around 1:30 p.m. by an archaeologist from Far Western Anthropological Research Group, out of Davis.
The researchers were doing a test dig on the west bank of the river. Digging stopped immediately and the Sheriff's Office was notified.
Far Western archaeologist Bill Hildebrandt positively identified the remains as Native American. The bones are estimated to be about 4,000 years old, Warren said. The researchers were in the area on a project for the Corps of Engineers. Warren said it isn't certain whether the project is related to the future construction of a new levee or to identify the area as an archaeological site for the National Register.
Warren went to the site to make sure the bones were not left there recently and determined the cause of death wasn't in the sheriff-coroner's jurisdiction. The Sheriff's Office notified the Native American Heritage Commission.
The remains have been covered for protection and all work in the area has stopped. "We pretty much want to leave it alone," Warren said. "We don't want it to be disturbed."
He added there is no indication how the person died or what tribe the individual belonged to.
Read entire article at Chicoer (California)
Lt. Rich Warren of Glenn County Sheriff's Office said in a phone interview late Monday that the bones were discovered around 1:30 p.m. by an archaeologist from Far Western Anthropological Research Group, out of Davis.
The researchers were doing a test dig on the west bank of the river. Digging stopped immediately and the Sheriff's Office was notified.
Far Western archaeologist Bill Hildebrandt positively identified the remains as Native American. The bones are estimated to be about 4,000 years old, Warren said. The researchers were in the area on a project for the Corps of Engineers. Warren said it isn't certain whether the project is related to the future construction of a new levee or to identify the area as an archaeological site for the National Register.
Warren went to the site to make sure the bones were not left there recently and determined the cause of death wasn't in the sheriff-coroner's jurisdiction. The Sheriff's Office notified the Native American Heritage Commission.
The remains have been covered for protection and all work in the area has stopped. "We pretty much want to leave it alone," Warren said. "We don't want it to be disturbed."
He added there is no indication how the person died or what tribe the individual belonged to.