Human remains unearthed at Brunswick construction site

A state archaeologist says a human skull, numerous coffin handles and other human remains offered plenty of evidence Sunday that construction workers had unearthed a cemetery near Belville Elementary School.

The county ordered a halt to work Monday in the area of what could be an old family cemetery.

The archaeologist, Mark Wilde-Ramsing, said Wednesday that he found no sign of graves when he first inspected the work site Sept. 26. But he was asked by Assistant County Attorney Jana Berg to go back because some anonymous sources said they had physical evidence of the graves.

The remains and the casket handles were moved when dirt was excavated to create a stormwater retention pond, Wilde-Ramsing said.

“They obviously took the dirt out and spread it in different places,” he added.

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether the developer knew the graves were there when he moved the dirt.

Read Thursday’s 'Star-News' for the full story.