Post by Okwes on Jul 15, 2007 16:48:50 GMT -5
Bones found near Indian Beach
Builders unearth remains, but excavation of site is unlikely
By LATISHA R. GRAY
latisha.gray@heraldtribune.com
SARASOTA -- The remains of what appears to be an American Indian have at least one local archeologist both excited and dismayed.
Palmetto archaeologist Bill Burger said the rib, femur and vertebrae unearthed this month by construction workers building a luxury home along the bayfront could offer clues of a tribe from long gone. But it is impossible to determine just what else is down there without doing more digging, he said, which state officials say is probably not going to happen.
"You don't know without looking," Burger said. "The rest of the skeleton could be down there and they just got part of it. But you don't know until you excavate."
Burger said the femur could give clues to the person's sex, and the bones could be tested to learn more about diet and health.
State archaeologists say the find is not a big deal, but they have kept the address a secret out of fear that grave robbers will flock to the area.
The bones were found in the Indian Beach area. Construction workers were digging near the back of where the home will be built at the time. They stopped working and called the police. The medical examiner determined that the remains were not part of a crime and turned the issue over to the state.
"It was pretty much a surprise," said Steve Murray, whose company is building the home. "We knew there were historical sites in the area. We knew because of the vicinity. Shell middens doesn't mean bodies, and we were shocked."
Shell middens are large mounds of shells, food remains and everyday material left behind by Native Americans. The mounds are generally covered by grass and dirt. They can be as large as a football field, and were sometimes used to bury people.
A state archaeologist said the recent find was an isolated event and that it is unlikely there are any other remains at the construction site. The state is in the process of determining if the remains will be reburied on the property, and have contacted the Seminole Tribes of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida for suggestions.
"It's an ordinary event," said David dickel, Conservation and Collections supervisor for the state. "The public conception is that it is exciting, that every archaeologist will come flocking down to Sarasota and write a paper about it. The fact is, it's a really ordinary event, and it's handled calmly and routinely."
dickel said it's common to find remains, but rare to find any with scientific or historical value, particularly those found by accident. The state probably will not do any testing on the remains found at the construction site because the sample is not big enough, he said.
He said the state's main concern is making sure the remains are handled properly and with respect.
Murray said he wants to return the remains to where he found them, and his customer is fully aware of his intentions. He said the discovery pushed back the completion date by a couple of weeks.
City officials would not say where the bones are being kept, but said they will remain in a safe place until they are turned over to the state. City spokeswoman Jan Thornburg said if more remains are found, construction will stop again and the process will start over.
"Human remains can tell us a lot about past human beings," Burger said. "If the remains are properly excavated and studied, we can learn a lot about a person, how they lived and how they interacted with their environment. I'm not one of the politically correct people, because I think scientists have rights, too."
Builders unearth remains, but excavation of site is unlikely
By LATISHA R. GRAY
latisha.gray@heraldtribune.com
SARASOTA -- The remains of what appears to be an American Indian have at least one local archeologist both excited and dismayed.
Palmetto archaeologist Bill Burger said the rib, femur and vertebrae unearthed this month by construction workers building a luxury home along the bayfront could offer clues of a tribe from long gone. But it is impossible to determine just what else is down there without doing more digging, he said, which state officials say is probably not going to happen.
"You don't know without looking," Burger said. "The rest of the skeleton could be down there and they just got part of it. But you don't know until you excavate."
Burger said the femur could give clues to the person's sex, and the bones could be tested to learn more about diet and health.
State archaeologists say the find is not a big deal, but they have kept the address a secret out of fear that grave robbers will flock to the area.
The bones were found in the Indian Beach area. Construction workers were digging near the back of where the home will be built at the time. They stopped working and called the police. The medical examiner determined that the remains were not part of a crime and turned the issue over to the state.
"It was pretty much a surprise," said Steve Murray, whose company is building the home. "We knew there were historical sites in the area. We knew because of the vicinity. Shell middens doesn't mean bodies, and we were shocked."
Shell middens are large mounds of shells, food remains and everyday material left behind by Native Americans. The mounds are generally covered by grass and dirt. They can be as large as a football field, and were sometimes used to bury people.
A state archaeologist said the recent find was an isolated event and that it is unlikely there are any other remains at the construction site. The state is in the process of determining if the remains will be reburied on the property, and have contacted the Seminole Tribes of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida for suggestions.
"It's an ordinary event," said David dickel, Conservation and Collections supervisor for the state. "The public conception is that it is exciting, that every archaeologist will come flocking down to Sarasota and write a paper about it. The fact is, it's a really ordinary event, and it's handled calmly and routinely."
dickel said it's common to find remains, but rare to find any with scientific or historical value, particularly those found by accident. The state probably will not do any testing on the remains found at the construction site because the sample is not big enough, he said.
He said the state's main concern is making sure the remains are handled properly and with respect.
Murray said he wants to return the remains to where he found them, and his customer is fully aware of his intentions. He said the discovery pushed back the completion date by a couple of weeks.
City officials would not say where the bones are being kept, but said they will remain in a safe place until they are turned over to the state. City spokeswoman Jan Thornburg said if more remains are found, construction will stop again and the process will start over.
"Human remains can tell us a lot about past human beings," Burger said. "If the remains are properly excavated and studied, we can learn a lot about a person, how they lived and how they interacted with their environment. I'm not one of the politically correct people, because I think scientists have rights, too."