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Possible centuries-old human remains found in Middlesex County

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Posted at 5:57 PM, Aug 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-13 17:57:41-04

MIDDLESEX Co., Va. - Remains that are thought to be hundreds of years old were found in Middlesex County in July.

During the digging process to install a pool, authorities at the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office say they received a call on July 20 to an Urbanna address for possible human remains found at the site.

When deputies arrived on scene, MXSO investigators contacted the Department of Historical Resources. They say Dr. David Brown with the Fairfield Foundation went to the site, and after an initial observation told them the remains were believed to date back between the 1700s and 1800s.

The Fairfield Foundation then froze and preserved the scene until permits could be secured to exhume the remains.

Related: William & Mary archaeologists find Civil War-era jug believed to be rare ‘witch bottle’ on I-64

On August 13, the sheriff's office said the Virginia Department of Historical Resources issued the Fairfield Foundation (Data Investigations) a permit to exhume the contents from the grave.

Using their forensic training, detectives are helping with the process.

A large portion of the remains were exhumed Thursday in order to be examined, while experts still need to sift through large earthen deposit piles to collect more data and evidence.

Click here to read more about the findings.