More Bones Unearthed At Inel

Human remains believed to be of ancient residents have been discovered at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.

The bones were found on May 12 by a shift superintendent at the Waste Experimental Reduction Facility who was checking the stormwater drainage pond.

Found were the remains of about a dozen people, mainly limbs and vertebrae. They have been removed from the site.

Government and Shoshone-Bannock tribal officials have been meeting to determine the best course of action. Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies paleontologist Sue Miller and Clayton Marler in the company’s cultural management office examined the find and determined the items were human.

Also present was a tribal archaeologist.

“There is not enough evidence to determine the ethnicity of the remains,” Miller said. “It is not possible at this time to determine how old the human remains are, if they are Native American or if they were imported from soil fill from another area.

“Additional tests on the remains themselves and an archaeological test excavation may help to answer some of these questions. But at this time, there are no firm plans for completing any of these investigations.”

Two years ago, human remains were found in the same general area. Test results indicated they were Native American.

The workers know about the archaeological possibilities there and are cautious about disturbing the ground. No construction is anticipated there.