Bones found on the southwest side of C Hill are likely American Indian and had possibly been buried there a century ago, an archaeologist told police.
Deputies were called out to the hillside just above Curry Street behind the Carson Ranger station on the report of a Sierra Pacific Power Company backhoe unearthing skull fragments, leg bones and other apparent human remains just before 1 p.m. The backhoe was digging to install a power pole.
Carson City Senior Forensic Specialist Dean Higman surmised that by the shape of the skull, the victim was likely male. The bones were devoid of flesh and hair and appeared to have been in the earth for a number of years. They were buried at least 6 feet deep.
Detective Dave Legros said a Bureau of Land Management archaeologist came out to the site and suspected the remains were American Indian and were at least 100 years old.
Franklin Pemberton, spokesman for the Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District, said the bones were found on land managed by the National Forest Service.
"It has been turned over to us, and we are treating this as more of a historical cultural scene," he said. "We are in the process of contacting the tribal archaeologist."
Pemberton said either the remains will be confirmed Indian and "we will be certain they are handled with whatever regard the tribe would like them handled in," or that the Forest Service would investigate their history.
"We could interpret them someday to find out who this person was and his connection to Carson City," he said.
- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.