COLUMBUS, Ind. — Human remains found at a Columbus construction site in 2021 will be given to the tribal community following analysis, the Columbus Redevelopment Commission said.
Bones were first found in May by construction workers trying to locate a 1940s-era clay sewer line as part of the Bartholomew County court services building project at 555 First St. in Columbus.
The human bones do not make up a complete skeleton, city Redevelopment Director Heather Pope said in a previous interview. They were found about 6- to 7-feet deep, mixed with animal leg bones that had been severed by some sort of serrated saw.
Pope said in late July that additional bones, believed to be human, were found later in the summer. She added that investigators from the University of Indianapolis believed no more bones were at the site.
The university has been involved in the investigation and is analyzing human remains found on the land. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has also been involved with the case.
“Throughout the course of several weeks, over 10,000 to 12,000 bone fragments were located contributing to at least eight or nine bodies originating from the Adena culture dating back to some 2,500 to 3,000 years ago,” said the redevelopment commission in its annual report.
For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
