Mummified Remains Found In Lake County, Indiana Quarry Site, May Be 2,000 Years Old

Surveyors for a Lake County, Indiana Quarry discovered a mummified body that could be as old as 2,000 years.

The discovery at the Singleton Stone Quarry ushered in archaeologists to visit the site and remove the remains. The county coroner was called out on Friday, alongside the Sheriff’s Office, when the body was found to rule out possibility of foul play. However, the body was quickly determined to be between 500 and 2,000 years old, placing it out of the coroner’s scope of work.

The mummified remains were found by surveyors and archaeologists at the projected quarry site. The location has long since been a controversial spot for a quarry, but plans to move forward were approved. Prior to taking further steps, archaeologists and surveyors were checking the land over for any ancient artifacts that may stall the quarry’s progress and coerce more investigation into what might be buried there. After the discovery of the mummified human remains, it is thought there might be an ancient Indian burial ground located on the site.

Coroner Merrilee Frey handed the investigation over to the archaeologists after the body was determined to be older than the 1940’s, according to the North West Indiana Times.

“I contacted and consulted with Dr. Krista Latham and Dr. Stephen Nawrocki, both board certified forensic anthropologists with University of Indianapolis, and together they determined the findings appear to be older than 1940, therefore neither the Lake County coroner’s office or criminal investigations will be involved in this case. The artifacts found at the scene have been determined by the Cardno archaeologists at the scene to possibly be human remains but the exact age is still unknown at this time.”

USA Today reported that if the mummified body leads to the discovery of sacred grounds, use of the quarry will be halted until strict rules are put into place and restrictions on the sue are followed, according to conservation officer Terri Millefogile.

“If it is determined this is any type of sacred ground, there are many avenues they will need to follow—many, many steps after today.”

The quarry is currently used to mine concrete for road construction and other such uses. Residents of Lake County have debated the presence of the quarry for quite some time, especially the farmers in the are. During the course of a day, the quarry pumps nearly 72 million gallons of water into the Singleton Ditch, altering the state of the land and putting farmland in danger.

[Photo Courtesy: Newser]