Tucson Prehistoric Human Bones Discovery Raises Questions About Ancient Settlement
TUCSON, Arizona (released) — An excavation team from the University of Arizona has unearthed a collection of prehistoric human bones at a construction site in the city’s northwest corridor, prompting a formal investigation by state archaeologists. The discovery occurred Thursday morning when a backhoe operator struck a shallow burial pit approximately 4.5 meters below the surface, unearthing fragments from at least two individuals. According to Dr. Amelia Torres, chief archaeologist for Pima County, the bones are estimated to predate the Hohokam period by over two millennia, with preliminary radiocarbon dating suggesting an age between 4,500 and 5,000 years. The site, originally slated for a commercial development, has been immediately secured under the Arizona Antiquities Act. Authorities are now collaborating with the Tohono O'odham Nation to determine cultural affiliation and repatriation protocols.