LAKEPORT >> While construction of the new Dollar General in Lakeport has kicked off this week, the discovery of multiple bones on the site may halt progress for an unknown amount of time. On Wednesday afternoon, the Lakeport Police Department responded to the construction site on South Main Street and Kimberly Lane after the report of bones found and dug out. Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said one large piece and several, smaller bones were collected in different parts of the site and seized for further investigation. “At this point, we don’t know that they are human. But [the bones] suspicious in that they could be human, that’s why we recovered them,” Rasmussen said. The site has a Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians monitor, which is provided by tribes for projects within their boundaries according to Big Valley Environmental Director Sarah Ryan, who responded to the incident. She explained that monitors are provided if “something is found, it can be handled properly.” She added that it is State protocol that if bones of human origin are found, multiple steps must be conducted, including contacting the Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office, have an archaeologist examine the content and perform a photo test to determine if, at all, bones are ancient. Rasmussen added that if they are considered human, a more in-depth investigation will have to take place which could pause construction of the store even further. Ryan reminds the public that, “It’s entirely possible to find items all over the county. Artifacts go as far back as 21,000 years. Our monitors are not on every single project, but it’s a good idea for someone from a tribe to be present” if something is found. “If people are doing projects, they should take the tribes into account and be in touch with them to see how to handle the situation respectfully.” Both the police chief and Ryan confirmed they would meet with an archaeologist tomorrow morning to determine whether the items collected are human bones or not.
