Bones Found at Grandview Parkway Construction Site Confirmed Human, "Pre-Modern"

Bones found by construction workers at a Grandview Parkway construction site near Oak Street have been confirmed as human and appear to be from a "pre-modern era," according to the Traverse City Police Department.

At approximately 4:30pm Friday, workers unearthed a bone while working on Grandview Parkway. The workers "immediately halted operations and notified authorities," according to the TCPD. "The site was secured to preserve any potential evidence and ensure a thorough investigation."

Forensic experts - including forensic anthropologists with Western Michigan University and the Michigan State Police and archaeologists from the Michigan Department of Transportation - were brought in to conduct a detailed examination of the bones, according to the TCPD. On Tuesday, the TCPD announced that the bones were confirmed to be human and "appear to be from a pre-modern era, suggesting they could be from a time period well before contemporary forensic methods were available." 

The TCPD is continuing to conduct a "thorough investigation" of the discovery with the assistance of partner agencies. "Construction activities on Grandview Parkway and Oak Street are scheduled to resume following a temporary halt in construction to allow for proper investigation and assessment," according to the TCPD.