Checking out a sand bar the other day I noticed what I thought was a turtle shell turned up side down in the shallow water. I picked it up and it was the top a a human skull. It must have washed down from somewhere up the river. It appears to be old, brownish in color, it is the frontal bone and the two sides. My question is what is the ethical thing to do. Thanks Mark
Bones????
- Thread starter teeweed
- Start date
T. Parsons
Registered User
Nome, AK
My first thought was a candy dish, but on second thought possibly a call to your local law enforcement provider would be in order. T. Parsons 
Ruidoso Ron
Registered User
Alto, NM
I personally think that a candy dish would be very crass! Do you have a good pen and pencil holder?
duckhunter
Registered User
greenville, ms
bones
use or for an astray or send it back to mexico where it came from
use or for an astray or send it back to mexico where it came from
Rob Murray
Registered User
Unionville, PA & Pointe au Baril, ON
skull
If the skull fragment appears to be very old and there is a university, state college, etc. in your area, I would recommend that you call the Anthropology Dept. (or any of the medical or science depts.) You may have made an important discovery.
If the skull fragment appears to be very old and there is a university, state college, etc. in your area, I would recommend that you call the Anthropology Dept. (or any of the medical or science depts.) You may have made an important discovery.
Clyde and Susan
BENEFACTOR
No it couldn't be... They found Hoffa in a Chicago hospital in a maternity ward organizing labor. ...Clyde
harneymaki
Registered User
Esko, Minnesota
Clyde and Susan said:
That's great to Hear! Glad to see a good union man organizing in the afterlife. I hope to be as lucky!
redrooster
Registered User
western Washington
If that was your skull, where would you want it to be- in some police evidence locker or museum store-room, or on display on some cool guy's mantelpiece? know where I'd rather be...
(organizing labor-- good one!!)
Rooster
(organizing labor-- good one!!)
Rooster
Steve Pierce
BENEFACTOR
Graham, TX
I know people who have found Buffalo skulls up here in the Brazos river bank but a human skull is a first. I think I would have someone check it out and see if it is an Indian skull. Find lots of points and stuff around here but never in the river. Had a friend who found two sets of antlers locked together.
Grant
FRIEND
At Work.....
If it were my head I would want to be on some cool guys mantle. However if it were not as old as we are assuming some family may be wondering where their daughter or son is. Not to be a buzz kill but The Ethical thing to do is take a picture for yourself and turn the skull over to authorities. None of us can tell you how old it is so leave that to the experts. I think we would all like to see it so be sure to take a picture.
JP
FOUNDER
The Big Woods of Maine
Probably best to have the authorities have a go at it. Remains are often hard to date by appearance as they can weather quickly.
They have the stuff to quickly determine whether it is an item of interest from a criminal and/or missing person perspective or simply an anthropologically interesting artifact of note.
The downside is you'll likely lose it. The upside is that if it is crime related or belongs to someone people are worried about it might help bring some answers.
So, tune in next week on "Supercub CSI"!
They have the stuff to quickly determine whether it is an item of interest from a criminal and/or missing person perspective or simply an anthropologically interesting artifact of note.
The downside is you'll likely lose it. The upside is that if it is crime related or belongs to someone people are worried about it might help bring some answers.
So, tune in next week on "Supercub CSI"!
Lowflybye
Registered User
Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Bring it to the next fly-in...it can become the Supercub.org Bonehead award for the pilot who does or says the dumbest thing at each fly-in. The current award holder will be responsible for returning and passing along the award at the next planned fly-in.
Bill Ingerson
Registered User
Snohomish Washington
Bones
You should tell the cops about this as soon as possible. they will want you to show them the sight were it was found. Could be its not as old as you think and somewhere up stream is the rest of the story.
Could be a important part of a missing/murdered type person.
You might be withholding evidence of a crime scene ?
You should tell the cops about this as soon as possible. they will want you to show them the sight were it was found. Could be its not as old as you think and somewhere up stream is the rest of the story.
Could be a important part of a missing/murdered type person.
You might be withholding evidence of a crime scene ?
Rick Papp
FRIEND
Bristolville, Ohio
Last year while we were walking around in the Utah canyonlands I picked up some interesting rocks and artifacts. I asked a local what the different minerals were. He responded That each item was "Leverite" I didn't understand and asked again. He again told me" Leverite"........." Leave er right there!!!! " I got the message. Rick
Rick that's a good thought. Take a picture and walk away. If it had been a grave I would have never moved a thing. The skull top was in 3 inches of water and you never know when the Brazos will start roaring bank to bank. in one hour the water could rise 3 or 4 more inches and the skull would have tumbled on down stream. I don't really care to keep it, however, I did remove it. I am showing it to a policeman that stays on the grass strip. I'll see what he suggests. I will let everyone know what he says. teeweed
