Archaeologist: Bones probably 1,000 years old

[KATHLEEN FLYNN | Times]

TAMPA -- Though the site was roped off with yellow crime scene ribbon, homicide detectives said Wednesday afternoon that they are backing off the case of the human bones found off U.S. Highway 301 on Tuesday.

They're not investigating the possibility of murder because archaeologists determined that the bones are more than 100 years old, detective Mike Hurley said. Instead, they're handing over the bones to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office and state archaeologists, who will determine the age of the bones.

For now, archaeologists estimate they're at least 1,000 years old because the bone is being mineralized, archaeologist Richard Estabrook said. He said they could be up to 12,000 years old.

Other questions archaeologists still have are the sex and ethnicity of the body.   

The bones were found when a construction crew digging a septic tank off of U.S. Highway 301 discovered human remains about six feet below the surface. A medical examiner later confirmed the bones were human.

Deputies received a call at 3:13 p.m. Tuesday about the discovery at 7808 U.S. Highway 301, just north of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Please return to tampabay.com for updates.

Comments

[Simon]

At first I was really excited, then I realized everyone around here is 1,000 years old.

[Marc]

This is a no-brainer, it's Dick Greco's old business partner Jimmy Hoffa! The bones look mineralized because he was drowned in a concrete mixer!

[Bland]

I don't think Miami CSI can solve this one.

My guess is an Indian killed another Indian.

So much for PC.

[Rodger]

at least 1000 years old maybe as old as 12000, I guess they havent a clue either.

[Rodger]

So when are the schools going to say christopher columbus didnt discover america.

[Rob]

They can't be 12,000 years old because the earth is only 6,000 years old. So says the book of fariy tails. LOL

[Marc]

I guess to a true Christian, those bones are fake. Watch out! It might just be the missing link, half ape and half man. What a shame that this discovery may disprove everything the bible says.

[jim]

Nice to see Rob Curry still bashing religion and spreading atheism

[Bob]

And your problem with that Jim? Atheists make up 11% of the U.S. population and 14% of the world's population. We're a minority to be reckoned with.

[Jim]

gee bob, an article about bones "possibly" being very very old and what comments are made? Atheists work to hard to frankly be jerks and that has nothing to do with their "non" belief.

[Rodger]

Jim they just found a black hole in the universe some 1000 lite years away, is that heaven or is heaven still just a myth?

[susan]

Rodger, decide for yourself. Do you see anyone other than atheists ridiculing? Jim has a point. I am tired of reading comments and every single time an opportunity arises for a dig against religion or the bible presents itself, an atheist makes sure to spout off. Now I know why your in the minority. Grow up already.

Damn, I'm glad this medical examiner hasn't examined anyone in my family. What's the age of these bones and nobody saw them when they were digging to put this in the first time?????????

Does Rob happen to be ZERO??

Oh, Rob is ZERO. Good ole Rob Curry at work. It never worked before Rob, so give it up. And you were supposedly raised by a preacher? Your poor father.

[Marc]

Hey wait a minute, I am Catholic and I believe in Evolution, Global Warming etc. Why can't I poke fun at Creationists and other Bible Literalists? IMHO the Christian preachers that attempt to brainwash their flock into the false belief that the Earth is only 6,000 years old and that evolution goes agents God are silly. This article about the potentially 12,000 year old remains is just another nail in that crazy bible thumping coffin.

[Rob]

Rob Curry?? not sure who he is, but nobody seems to have a problem when the "Christians" want to turn the USA in Iran ruled by religion I have no problem with religion just keep it to yourself and the rest of your flock. Don't push it on the rest of us. And for goodness sake send your kids to private schools and let the public schools be.

[fortis]

I think it is really wild that we are blown away by these bones since the dirt pile they were excavated from, the tools used by the workers and even the air they breathed while unearthing them have been recycled an infinite number of times through unmeasurable manifestations of life forms on this planet. Just grab a handful of that dirt and be in awe! We are these bones, and just as we found them, they will eventually disentegrate and they will once more be assimilated into the eternally fluid mass.

Building and road contractors find bones like this all the time. I'd bet the general contractor is really mad at the crew for calling authorities and slowing down construction job. Usually they just zip their mouths and keep paving.

[DB]

This, IMO, is a fascinating find. Being a Christian isn't mutually exclusive from understanding science, as much as this particular newspaper has made it seem.

I'm going back to the Scientology article -- the posters there seem to be a lot more fun.

Kind of like they do with the gopher turtles.

[Marc]

Agreed with DB, sadly is the vocal minority of Christian Literalists that are pushing this country so far to the right, pretty soon our women and daughters will be wearing Burkas and stoning people to death for breaking Christian laws will be the daily norm.

[s. hawking]

um...i missed the part in the story about religion. it's just really cool that bones this old were discovered. in 12,000 years i hope i'm discovered with my labtop so the archaeologists can use these insightful comments posted here to end the debate of how the universe was ceated.

[Jim]

Rob, the only one who even slightly mentioned anything with a religious connotation originally was you and it was to belittle it so it is you the athiest as usual doing the pushing. Now if you learn to enjoy your non belief and behave like an adult, perhaps you wouldn't BE in the minority. Enjoy your status.

[Jim]

Marc, they you are aren't Catholic son so I suggest strongly you give up your charade.

[s. hawking]

i meant created. even those of us with rediculiously high i.q.'s make a mistake occasionally.

[Christian]

For Rob, Marc and Bob: Christianity is not about how old the earth is or how long humans have been here. Its about having faith in the belief that there is one God who created the heavens and earth and everything in it including "time" and how we as humans treat each other over the course of our short lives here. a true Christian does not ridicule the faith or lack thereof of any other person but prays for them out of love, so that they might have more life other than this short physical one.
If we are wrong and there is no God or life after death, then nothing has been lost and the lives of non-believers in Christianity have not been altered in any way.
However if we are right and live our lives according to the Way ( the Way Jesus Christ lived His life) then much has been gained and many who did not believe have the opportunity to join us in everlasting life.
Everyone has the right to choose for themselves, what and whom to believe. i respect your right to not believe. No one in America is forcing you to make your choices in what you believe. If you are wise, you will begin to respect the rights of others, Christains included, to choose and live by their belief system, instead of excercising your fear and paranoia by ridiculing those who dont believe as you do.
i will be praying for you, in the hope that you become a bit wiser and find something more to believe in than a cold and dark grave.

[Marc]

Jim, hate to break it to you, but yes I am Roman Catholic. I attend traditionalist masses and even speak/read some Latin. The Catholic church believes that Science and the Holy Bible can peacefully co-exits (wow what a notion). Therefor my belief in science, technology, evolution (I am a degreed engineer), does not conflict with the book I so dearly love.

[Ted]

The bones are of someone waiting in Tampa traffic.

[Dave W]

Why is everything a religious war with people in Tampa? Nothing in the article references religion, education, or even corruption. It's about a guy/girl who has been dead for a long time. It's an interesting story, due to the location and circumstances. But after that, it is nothing and will not matter by next week.

[melacakiki]

They just reported in bay news 9 that in fact, they were not remains but rather one of the olsen twins playing in the dirt.

Anybody check with the engines to see if maybe they lost a couple of indians on patrol.

[golfrat]

I still say it's the owners son who is a known alcoholic...well pickeled!

[geo]

bunch of idiots these bones are not from a christian or also from someone who was not an atheists hey wait maybe he's a science toligist

[geo]

lol

[geo]

lol

[anon]

melacakiki , lol

[doty]

all thes peole above me dont know what they are talking about ther retarted

[Dawn]

Kathleen, I wish you could've gotten a close picture of the bones. Oh well. By now the "Jeffersonian Institute" in Washington DC. has 'em. Ha ha.