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Human remains stolen from dig site |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Tuesday, 14 March 2006 |
By NEIL HORNER
Mar 07 2006
Human remains found at a newly-discovered First Nations burial site in Parksville have vanished. Oceanside RCMP Constable Seth Paine says one portion of the human remains has vanished from the site and a police investigation has been opened into exactly what happened to it.
The remains, in four graves, were discovered in November as reconstruction work began on a house at 310 Dogwood St.
The home on the beachfront property had burned down earlier in the year and was being rebuilt with a larger footprint. It was during the excavation of that expanded footprint that the graves of four First Nations people were discovered.
Dave Hutchcroft, an archeologist with the Provincial Archeology Branch, says a dig was begun at the site shortly after the remains were found.
A dig was initiated as the result of a discovery of some archeological materials during the excavation of the foundation of a rebuilt house, he says. On discovery of the materials, the contractors stopped what they were doing and contacted archeologists to look at it.
Hutchcroft says the dig was conducted in January and February and has since concluded. The remains are currently being examined by archeologists and he adds they will likely be turned over to First Nations representatives for reburial. However, says Paine, one portion of the remains, a skull fragment, has simply vanished from the site.
There is a remain that has gone missing from an archeological site, Paine says. They are calling it a skull fragment, not a full skull. It was apparently found by the excavation people. They returned it to where it was found and covered it up. The archeology team came back and it wasn't there. Paine notes it is an offence under the Heritage Conservation Act to remove artifacts or human remains from an archeological dig.
We have a suspect and I will be following up on it in short order, he says.
Hutchcroft says it is not unusual to find human remains in the area, noting that sites have been identified in the immediate area, although archeologists were unaware of a site on this particular property.
Some areas are more susceptible to the presence of sites than others. Close to water it's more common along the coast.
Hutchcroft notes he has given a recommendation that construction work on the house be allowed to go ahead.
"The area where the house footprint is going is pretty disturbed," he says. "There are no intact areas left. There was a certain level of recovery done from that area. We are accepting there is a sufficient level of work done and I gave a recommendation ... to go ahead."
First Nation Chief Kim Recalma-Clutesi says she has concerns about the incident.
"I am concerned and I must say I don't have details on this," she said Monday. "It has not been brought forward to the council."
However, Recalma-Clutesi says that from what she has heard, both the home owner and the builder were conscientious about dealing with the find.
"The home owner is innocent and did all the right things," she says. "The construction crew did all the right things to call and report."
The investigation into the missing remains is continuing.
http://www.pqbnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=50&cat=23&id=602619 |
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